COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new pilot program will aim to improve the dental health of school-age children in areas of need throughout Ohio.

Gov. Mike DeWine first announced the Ohio Children’s Dental Services Pilot Program during his State of the State Address last week.

In 2023, 64% of school-age children on Medicaid didn’t have a single dental visit all year, and among all Ohio children last school year, 19% had at least one untreated cavity, a news release states.

“Poor dental health can make it hard for a child to eat, sleep or even talk – let alone learn,” DeWine said during his address. “It’s clear that many Ohio children have untreated, serious dental problems that follow them into adulthood. We must step up for these children.”

As part of the governor’s executive budget proposal, the pilot program will start by serving children in the nine Ohio counties that are designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas and that lack “safety net dental clinics” – nonprofit dental facilities that provide care to low-income families.

Counties in the pilot program include: Clinton, Crawford, Gallia, Highland, Hocking, Monroe, Noble, Paulding and Washington.

Through the pilot program, the Ohio Department of Health will bring together health care providers, school districts and others to deploy dental programs directly to schools – providing screenings, preventative care and treatment to children who have the most critical need for these services.

“Unlike vision screenings, Ohio does not require dental screenings in schools, and too many of our children are not receiving this essential care,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, ODH director. “Untreated oral health conditions can lead to more serious health issues and even costly emergency department visits. This program will help improve our children’s health in some of the most underserved areas of the state.”

If approved by the General Assembly, ODH anticipates the pilot program could provide dental services to as many as 12,000 Ohio children in these high-need counties who didn’t see a dentist in the past year.

Pictured at top: Gov. Mike DeWine addresses members of the Ohio General Assembly during his State of the State Address on March 12.