FALLING BETWEEN THE CRACKS - ORAL HEALTH SURVEY OF SCHOOL-CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 13 HAVING LIMITED ACCESS TO DENTAL SERVICES

A survey of 367 Indianapolis school children, ages five to thirteen, r evealed a group of children who have the least probability of receivin g dental care, because of severe financial barriers in family income. These children belong to the lowest socioeconomic level of families wh ose income is not low enough to qualify them for Medicaid coverage. Th ese children have higher rates of caries prevalence and gingivitis, an d less filled teeth than children who belong to the same low socioecon omic group but whose families receive Medicaid or insurance coverage.