About 6.5 million children enrolled in Medicaid had untreated tooth decay in 2005 . Last ##ly 12-year - old Deamonte Driver died from complications of infected tooth . Dentists often refuse to accept Medicaid , which often costs less than private insurance . Many Medicaid recipients say it 's difficult to get dental care using insurance .
About 6.5 million children enrolled in Medicaid had untreated tooth decay in 2005 . Last year 12-year-old Deamonte Driver died from complications of infected tooth . Dentists often refuse to accept Medicaid , which often pays less than private insurers . Many Medicaid recipients say it 's difficult to get dental care using Medicaid .