A recent article in the Lawrence Journal World outlined recent administrative budget cuts for a state program that provided dental care to low income pregnant women in Kansas:
A program that was meant to provide dental care for low-income pregnant women in Kansas has never gotten off the ground because of a lack of funding to administer it, officials say.
Lawmakers had appropriated $500,000 to pay for the dental care, but have slashed administrative expenses at the Kansas Health Policy Authority to the extent that the agency hasn’t been able to implement the initiative, according to KHPA officials.
Click here to read the full article.
As discussed in my previous post regarding the new American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Guidelines, dental care during preganancy is crucial for the health of the child and the mom. More quotes from the release:
[The new guidelines] call for all pregnant women to receive counseling and oral healthcare during pregnancy, and also that infants receive an oral health risk assessment and oral care by their first birthday. These steps will contribute to optimal oral health for both mom and baby.
“There is evidence associating periodontal disease and increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight,” said AAPD’s Immediate Past-President Dr. Beverly Largent. A recently published study found significant differences between women treated for periodontal disease and those who were not treated. The findings suggest that incorporating periodontal care may result in improved pregnancy outcomes.
More to come on this issue . . .
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