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Conexiant chevron_right Dental chevron_right Medicaid Limits No Fluoride Fewer Dentists
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Medicaid Limits, No Fluoride, Fewer Dentists

Rural U.S. counties face rising tooth decay rates amid dentist shortages, declining fluoridation, and gaps in Medicaid dental access.

KFF Health News
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The rural communities in the Arkansas Ozark region face a shortage of dentists and resist adding fluoride to the drinking water due to fears of health risks. Despite the known benefits of fluoride in preventing tooth decay, the anti-fluoride movement gains momentum following concerns about its potential link to lower IQ in children. Medicaid cuts and the erosion of water fluoridation could exacerbate the crisis of rural oral health, particularly for those with limited access to professional care and fluoridated water. The combination of dentist shortages and unfluoridated water poses significant challenges to oral health in these areas.

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