The dental health crisis

Millions of Americans can't get the dental care they need, according to a recent report. The report shows that more than 47 million people live in places where it is difficult to access dental care; 17 million low-income children received no dental care; and lower-income adults in the United States are almost twice as likely to go without a dental checkup than those in higher income brackets.

The nation's oral health challenges received prominent attention in The New York Times. Last month, The Denver Post's Michael Booth looked at the implications of Colorado's dental health issues.

Though the results of the 2012 Colorado Health Report Card show the state is still lagging far behind other states in dental health care for children, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment identified oral health as one of the state's 10 "Winnable Battles." Also, in the Colorado Legislature, Sen. Jeanne Nicholson, D-Georgetown, is sponsoring  a bill that would add dental services for pregnant women to the state's Medicaid program.