County’s dental services changing

Cuts in the state Medicaid program are prompting changes in the Lake County Health Department’s dental program, officials announced Tuesday. Medicaid no longer will cover the cost of adults’ routine dental exams, fillings, dentures, root canals, crowns or cleanings performed by the health department. Extractions for adult dental emergencies, such as acute infections and trauma, will continue to be covered. Dental services for children remain covered, too. The health department’s six community health centers currently serve more than 14,000 dental patients. About 2,600 of these adult patients, who are Medicaid recipients, are directly affected by this change in dental covered services.