HONOLULU — Hawaii has more dentists per capita than any state except Massachusetts but children here have among the worst rates of tooth decay in the country.
HONOLULU — Hawaii has more dentists per capita than any state except Massachusetts but children here have among the worst rates of tooth decay in the country.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday data from Delta Dental Plans Association found the percentage of Hawaii children who had one or more cavities in the past three years was at 48 percent.
One of the reasons for that is Hawaii’s water supply is not fluoridated, except on military bases.
The state Health Department hopes to launch a pilot program to provide dental sealant to children in low-income schools.
The Pew Center gave Hawaii an F grade in its most recent report on how well the state is protecting children from tooth decay. It’s the same grade Hawaii received the previous two years.