Governor Beshear comes to Hazard to announce an initiative to promote dental care in Eastern Kentucky. The three-year plan is aimed specifically at children.

The governor came to Dennis Wooton Elementary in Perry County to talk about the issue. He says dental health for kids is a priority, and it's important to act now.
Funding for the initiative will help increase the number of pediatric dentists practicing in Eastern Kentucky.

"We've got a total of about $2 million that we are going to direct toward an oral health program," Governor Beshear announced at Wooton Elementary.

It's an effort to help more children receive the dental care they need. Beshear says, "When we take care of our kids, and we let them get a good start in life in every way, then we are really going to build this state the way it should be built, and we will improve everybody's quality of life."

Only 28 of Kentucky's 120 counties have pediatric dentists. Beshear says this initiative will change that. "One of the efforts that we are doing is to get some training: bring our general dentists in and give them some incentives," the governor says.

State Dental Director Julie McKee says, "Dentists can earn up to 15 credits of continuing education units at no cost to them." Dr. McKee says dentists need 30 every two years to keep their license.

She says the program will also help counties create coalitions to meet their oral health needs. "We can tell them statistically what their problem is, how many dentists they have, how many dentists they don't have, how many kids aren't getting care, but the community themselves know the answer."

Despite the tight budget, state government is matching funding from the federal government and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

"Tough economic times," Governor Beshear says, "That's no excuse for letting something like this go on. We've got to invest in our future, and our children are our future."

Students listening say they learned from the governor's message. Second grader Celeb Barnett says, "Take care of your teeth." First grader Nicole Fugate says, "Brush your teeth so you won't lose them and you won't get cavities."

Beshear and Dr. McKee say the need is clear, with recent statistics showing
Kentucky leading the nation in missing teeth from decay and disease. They say the place to start is with kids, so the good habits will continue.