Washington Dental Service donates $1 million to bring healthy smiles to low-income children in King County 11,000–13,000 children to get oral health care coverage through King County program Uninsured children in King County will have better access to dental care thanks to a $1 million grant from the Washington Dental Service to King County. The grant was announced today by King County Executive Ron Sims and Washington Dental Service Chief Executive Officer Jim Dwyer. A state survey conducted in 2005 found that the rate of tooth decay among Washington children is growing with one in five elementary school-aged children having rampant untreated decay – cavities in 7 or more teeth. The problem recently made national headlines with adolescent deaths in Maryland and Louisiana stemming from common, preventable cavities Children with severe dental decay often need to be treated in hospital emergency and operating rooms, costing about $4,000 per child. Extensive dental decay is one of the top five reasons children receive care in the operating rooms of Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. King County will use the donation to expand oral health care to 11,000–13,000 children as part of its Children's Health Initiative to bring health care coverage and services to uninsured low-income children whose families may qualify for existing public health insurance programs or the newly expanded coverage, effective 2009, under the new children's health act. For the rest of this article please visit www.metrokc.gov. Contact a Local Dentist to learn more about how to maintain your oral heath!