Oral Health

Although tooth decay is the most common preventable illness, recent findings from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), show that one in three children between the ages of 1 and 5 years did not have access to dental insurance and a third had never visited a dentist.

In many counties, First 5 is the only funder of dental care for young low-income children, providing screening and fluoride varnishes to prevent caries, and increasing access to fluoridated drinking water.  Since passage of Proposition 10, access to oral health for California’s most vulnerable children has increased significantly.

• In 2009, the First 5 Association commissioned a review of First 5 county commission investments in oral heatlh. This report - First 5 Commission Investments in Oral Health - is available for download by clicking the link below.


• Also available for download is a recent study commissioned by First 5 LA - The Oral Health Baseline Needs Assessment of Underprivileged Children - which documents the oral health of Los Angeles's most vulnerable children.


• To learn more about county commission investments in children's oral health, click on the link labeled County Investments.