According to the latest studies, over 70% of Latino third‑graders in California have experienced tooth decay, compared with 40% of their White peers. That disparity signals a broader structural issue I witness often in my Montclair dental practice.
I hear the same painful story from Latino parents: their child hasn’t slept, can’t eat and can’t focus in class due to severe tooth pain. Before reaching my office, these parents have often called multiple other dentists and been told they either don’t accept Medi-Cal or don’t have openings for months. These aren’t negligent families. They are hard-working people trying to navigate a system that repeatedly shuts the door on their children.
In Sacramento County, with a population of nearly 1.6 million, 24% are Hispanic, and many Latino families live in working-class neighborhoods where parents balance long shifts or multiple jobs. Public insurance is often the only realistic option for health care. But when it comes to dental care, access remains inconsistent and limited. Oral health is still treated like an afterthought, even though it affects how children learn, grow and feel about themselves.
A Persistent Dental Gap in Latino Communities
Across California, Latino children are nearly twice as likely as White children to have untreated cavities. Tooth decay doesn’t resolve on its own. Left untreated, it leads to infections, abscesses and emergency visits that could have been avoided with simple preventive care…