Study Shows Finding Dental Services for California Kids May be Difficult

A new study out today from The Children’s Partnership finds the website used by the State of California to provide information about dentists for children was often inaccurate. For example, the non-profit group found many of the dentists listed do not treat or provide certain services to children. Several offices were incorrectly listed as having Spanish-speaking staff. 

Jenny Kattlove with The Children’s Partnership says it’s important to resolve these problems now before federal healthcare reform is in place.

"More than half of all children in California will be enrolled in Medi-Cal by the end of this year,” she said.

More than five million children are expected to be enrolled by the end of 2013.

Kattlove admits the study was small. Her group only spoke to 145 dental providers. But she says this was meant to identify some families’ experiences and to spur more research.