If you want to know why your dental care is in trouble talk to the parents. I have custody of my 5 grand children and my heart aches when dental exam time arrives. I have only been in Minnesota for 6yrs and for everything it has in health care it is lacking in children's dental. My grand children have been traumatized by their visits to the dentist. I have never seen a lack of caring for children in my like I do here. Finding a good pediatric dentist that sedates for fillings and extractions is almost impossible if your child is on any type of Minnesota Health care. My grand children did not ask to be put in this situation.On top of what they have already suffered I watched them treated with little dignity and care when teeth needed to be pulled. It was not because of cavities but because of baby teeth not falling out. These two children screamed in pain and said, It is hurting it is not numb! They were told they were fine it would be done in a minute. The 9 yr old said it hurt so bad and the 12 yr old said I was not fully numb yet. I feel bad for these kids and pray that there is not a cavity next trip. Your pediatric dental care needs a serious overhaul Minnesota!!!

flipper6222, children have died from the use of sedatives in routine medical procedures. The younger the child, the more unpredictable affects these medications can have on them. Finding the right dosage requires several hospital visits — and even then there is no way of knowing how that particular child will react. Yes, having a tooth pulled hurts. But the temporary pain is much better than the potential horrific side affects of treating children with medications that have only been tested on adults.

Statistically we are at the natonal average, so what exactly is the emergency? Many of the children in this survey are tthird world immigants ( many illegal) who have had no dental care before coming here. Another story that miises the cause and effect of a situation.

Since when does your income have anything to do with making sure your kid practices good dental hygiene?

If children drank more tap water which is flouridated then dental health would improve. The bottled water industry has bamboozled us into thinking that their product is superior.

Let me add my 2 cents on adults on MA. The dumb state decided that they would only pay for one regular visit a year. Thus, some adults will have worse teeth, and thus cost the state more in the long run, plus will make their quality of life worse. In this case, prevention would have saved the state money. Wrong move, State of MN.