The Healthy Kids Dental program has expanded.

The program has increased in the FY2013 Department of Community Health budget that has been approved by a conference committee.

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“Thousands more disadvantaged children in Michigan will be able to get dental care, thanks to a $16.6 million expansion of the highly successful Healthy Kids Dental program," said From Drew Eason, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Dental Association.

Some $5.6 million of that is state money, the remainder federal.

"This is the first step in Gov. Rick Snyder’s call for statewide expansion by 2016 of this nationallyrecognized program, which currently serves about 349,000 Medicaid-eligible children in 65 counties," added Eason.

“Healthy Kids Dental balances the oral health needs of Michigan’s children with the responsible appropriation of taxpayer dollars. A 5-year-old who visits a dentist for the first time at age 1 needs just $262 in dental care over those five years while a 5-year-old seeing a dentist for the first time requires $546 in care. This is smart public policy.”

For more information, visit www.smilemichigan.com/.

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