Barriers to Treatments of ECC/Access to care is Limited

• High cost of care and lack of dental insurance
• Difficulties finding dental care (in part because of limited availability of dentists)
• Difficulties arranging for transportation to dentists
• Lost income during time of dental visits
• Poor education about the importance of dental care
• Low priority of dental care for personal, community, or cultural reasons
• Transportation or physical access to the building 
• Children with special health care needs may require sedation
• Financial strain, especially with multiple visits or restorative work
• If a child has numerous medical concerns, families may consider oral health a low priority.

Since access to care for those children may be limited, you are the front line!

• Oral health training must be provided to all health care partners, including physicians, nurses, and health educators, and early interventionists (CDC)
• Primary care providers should assess and manage oral health of children at high risk for ECC (Surgeon General)
• Non-dental workforce can overcome many barriers to achieving goals of Healthy People 2010
• Social workers can link health and oral health services