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N.C. officials promote children's dental health

N.C. health officials say Medicaid expansion will help lessen disparities in access to oral health care for children. Adobe stock photo

N.C. health officials say Medicaid expansion will help lessen disparities in access to oral health care for children. Adobe stock photo

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and North Carolina officials are stressing the importance of kids' dental hygiene.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, nearly one in five kindergartners in the state have untreated tooth decay, which can lead to long-term health issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been cited as a contributing factor in declining oral health in children. Recent data shows that the rate of untreated cavities among kindergartners is at a five-year peak, while the rates of treatment are at their lowest. And disparities in health care remain, with access to care a major barrier for low-income individuals and families.

NCDHHS officials say there are options for those seeking dental care, particularly with the recent expansion of Medicaid.

The state has provided a list of nonprofitdental facilities for low-income families that offer insurance options and sliding-scale fees. Parents and caregivers can also locate NC Medicaid-enrolled dentists online.

The NCDHHS Division of Public Health maintains an oral health webpage for those seeking more information. 

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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