States across the county slashing Medicaid dental benefits

Without the ability to decrease Medicaid eligilbility in recent years, states have instead began reducing optional benefits for adults as a way to face financial shortfalls. And the benefit most likely to be cut is dental coverage (Source: "Sharp Cuts in Dental Coverage for Adults on Medicaid," New York Times, Aug. 28, 2012).

According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation titled "Filling the Gaps: Dental Care, Coverage and Access," in about half of the states, Medicaid now covers dental care only for pain relief and emergencies.

Dental benefits have been reduced or eliminated in both Republican- and Democratic-controlled states and will likely not improve under the Affordable Care Act, which requires dental coverage only for children.