Oregon legislators are attempting to rectify the state's lack of access to dental care for many children, rural residents and low-income families, the Mail Tribune reports.
Forty percent of Medicaid-enrolled children statewide did not receive any dental services in 2018, according to a study published by Portland-based Oregon Health and Science University.
"Unfortunately, 17,000 children in Oregon have rampant decay as classified by the Oregon Health Authority, which means seven or more untreated cavities," Melissa Freeman, the Oregon Community Foundation's director of strategic projects, told the Mail Tribune.
The Oregon Community Foundation and two state House representatives are working to pass the "Healthy Teeth, Bright Futures" campaign, which would require schools to teach age-appropriate dental health instruction and improve school dental health services.
Sen. Laurie Monnes-Anderson, D-Gresham, is working to pass a bill that would allow licensed dental therapy, with two pilot programs in Oregon currently in existence. The providers assist dentists, expanding the number of patients a dentist can treat.