Here are five highlights:
1. New Hampshire has the lowest percentage of third-graders with untreated tooth decay.
2. However, nearly 25 percent of New Hampshire adults have not seen a dentist in the last year.
3. New Hampshire residents have limited access to affordable dental care, especially for low-income families in the less populated regions of the state.
4. The state’s Medicaid program only covers the treatment of dental trauma, pain and infection, which usually results in pulled teeth with no follow-up care.
5. The panel urges the state to consider expanding coverage to include preventative and restorative services if there is sufficient funding. A cost analysis indicated an expanded benefit plan could cost between $11 million to $13 million a year.
