Gov. Brad Henry created a special task force in 2007 to extensively study the issue of children’s oral health in Oklahoma. The Governor’s Task Force on Children and Oral Health was charged to:

• Address programs for children and youth, including those with special needs.
• Study existing state, federal and private sector funded programs.
• Determine ways to infuse oral health education, dental care and dental disease prevention into existing programs.
• Make recommendations for new programs.
• Develop a State Oral Health Plan.

Oklahoma has been given a grade of "C" in a new report by the Pew Center on the States called "The Cost of Delay: State Dental Policies Fail One in Five Children."

The report cites the lack of a state-wide school-based sealant program, no Medicaid reimbursement for medical providers for early preventive dental health care, and falling just short of the 75% mark for fluoridated community water supplies as reasons for the average grade. However, the report recognized progress the state has made, particularly the fact that Medicaid-enrolled children receiving dental care increased from only 17 percent in 2000 to 43 percent in 2007.