The Affordable Care Act has in theory made it easier for poor children in California to get their teeth cleaned or have a cavity filled. But getting into a dentist’s chair appears to be harder than ever, as fewer dentists accept patients on Denti-Cal, the dental insurance program for children in families on Medi-Cal.
At the same time, a pilot program expanding which procedures dental hygienists can perform may contain at least a partial solution to the problem.