US newspaper the Richmond Register has highlighted the fact that 40 per cent of children in Kentucky have never seen a dentist.
The publication claimed more needs to be done to provide dental health services to children in the state and also to educate people about the need to see a dentist.
It noted that "such statistics are unacceptable" and the fact that there are too few dentists now needs to be addressed.
Furthermore, access to dental health services should not be constrained to when a person is in need of emergency dentistry, as many of the problems faced could be avoided through good oral health and regular check-ups.
Elsewhere, Nottingham councillor Ginny Klein, chair of the Health and Adult Social Care scrutiny committee, recently noted it is key for dental professionals to educate their patients about the benefits of good oral health and the need for regular check-ups and daily brushing and flossing.