http://kbia.org en http://kbia.org/post/does-missouri-need-state-dental-director <p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The Missouri General Assembly now has an oral health caucus. Co-chaired by Reps. Donna </span>Lichtenegger<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> (R-Jackson) and Jeanne Kirkton (D-Webster Groves), the caucus held its first meeting Monday, Feb. 11. A big item on the caucus' agenda? Reinstating the position of dental director in the state's health department.&nbsp;</span></p><p> Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:59:14 +0000 Harum Helmy 28831 at http://kbia.org Does Missouri need a state dental director? http://kbia.org/post/why-missouri-falling-short-childrens-dental-health <p>The Pew Charitable Trust’s Center on the States<a href="http://www.pewstates.org/research/reports/falling-short-85899434875#factsheets" target="_blank"> recently released a report or oral health </a>that didn’t speak too highly of Missouri. On an A through F scale,<a href="http://www.pewstates.org/research/state-fact-sheets/missouri-falling-short-85899440191" target="_blank"> it gave the state a D</a> for its efforts to provide access to dental sealants for high-need kids. Dental sealants are plastic coatings put on children’s molars after they first come in that help prevent decay. Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:36:26 +0000 Ryan Famuliner 27720 at http://kbia.org Why Missouri is falling short on children's dental health