RI drops to a "B" in dental care for kids

By MEGAN HALL

Providence, RI – By MEGAN HALL
Rhode Island has fallen from an A to a B in an annual report card on the quality of children's dental care.

The Pew Charitable Trust bumped the Ocean State down to a B now that policy makers require a dentist's exam before hygienists can put plastic sealants on children's teeth. Rhode Island also lost points for below average payments to dentists that accept Medicaid.

But the report card isn't all bad news- Rhode Island excels in the number of low income children that receive dental care and the percentage of residents that have tap water with Fluoride-a mineral that prevents tooth decay.

New Hampshire and Vermont also earned a B in the nationwide report card. Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts all received As.

More details
Read the Pew report on Rhode Island here
Read the entire report here