Dental decay is one of the most common chronic illness among children.  Although it has been established that poor dental and oral health care is also an integral component of children’s overall health and well-being.  Still many children do not receive the dental care recommended.

Difficulties in obtaining dental care disproportionately affect low-income and minority children.  Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) are major sources of dental coverage, reaching millions of low-income children, but inadequate access to  dental care among these children remains a critical health policy challenge