History of State and Federal Programs
n States were not required to spend dollars on
dentistry
u State dental departments competed for funding
with other state health interests, and their
dental programs grew quite slowly.
n 1955- 1.5 billion were expended for dental
services in U.S.
u  2.1 million by State dental programs; 42% of
this came from federal grant in aid programs
n 1956- more favorable formulas for medical and
dental payments
u States started to look more favorably at
dentistry