Texas earned a C minus on its report card for oral health.  Every year, a group called Oral Health America rates all 50 states on issues that affect the oral health of citizens, especially children. Dr. Niessen looks at why some dentists say Texas is headed for a failing grade.

STORY: TX Dental Report Card

SCRIPT #510 SHOOT: 5/2/03

AIRDATE: Monday, May 5, 2003

daybreak and midday

DHC Master #17 Timecode: 45:44 Texas earned a C minus on its report card

for oral health. Every year, a group called Oral Health America rates all 50 states on

issues that affect the oral health of

citizens, especially children.

Dr. Linda Niessen has details in today’s SOVT: 1:51 segment of Dental Health Check.

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CHILDREN IN DENTAL CLINIC (VOICE-OVER)

Millions of Texas families do not get adequate dental care. Cost remains

a barrier. In seventy Texas counties,

there are no dentists!

ORAL HEALTH AMERICA So when the Chicago based group,

Oral Health America, graded each

state in the nation this year, Texas

earned an overall C minus.

(ON CAMERA) (STAND-UP BRIDGE)

SUPER: Dr. Linda Niessen :27-33 At this year’s Texas Dental Association

Baylor College of Dentistry meeting in San Antonio, dentists debate

the issue of access. Texas gets its lowest

rating of all on access to dental care--

a disappointing D minus.

DR. MICKEY VACLAV WALKING (“We don’t have the access to dental

WITH DR. NIESSEN care that we need in Texas.”)

WALKING SHOT Dr. Mickey Vaclav, an Amarillo dentist,

predicts Texas will get an F on its next

oral health report card.

SUPER: Dr. Mickey Vaclav :48-53 (“Under the present situation with what

Texas Dental Association the legislature is doing right now in oral

health in Texas, it will be an F the next time

the report card comes around, and it will be an unqualified F.”)

Page 2 TX Dental Report Card

TEXAS LEGISLATURE In Austin, many Texas lawmakers support cutbacks in the CHIP program, which provides low cost dental and medical services for children.

DENTISTS MEETING IN SAN At their annual convention, Texas dentists

ANTONIO blast legislators who vote to cut small

SUPER: San Antonio 1:08-1:12 budgets for dental services, making them

even smaller.

SUPER: Dr. Rise’ Lyman (“And this is really going to hurt access

Dentist 1:19-1:24 to care for children which is our future.”)

SUPER: Dr. Jim Reisman 1:24-1:29 (“I think the budget shortfall in Austin will

Dentist affect the access to care by the low income

residents of this state.”)

ON CAMERA (STAND-UP CLOSE)

Texas rates only a grade of “C” for

water fluoridation. Until very recently, San Antonio was the largest Texas city that didn’t add fluoride to the water supply. Finally, the Alamo city voters said yes to fluoride. So now, San Antonio residents are getting the extra protection against tooth decay that they need. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen.

(optional anchor tag)

Montana received the worst grade in oral

health among the 50 states The national report card gave the highest marks to Connecticut, Ohio, Vermont and Wisconsin.