The Pew Center study criticized Oklahoma's dental care for children and graded all 36 states, including Oklahoma, a "C", in the report which it conducted in February, the National Children's Dental Health Month.

Oklahoma is able to meet just half of the eight policy benchmarks aimed at addressing children’s dental health needs. About 40% of third graders in Oklahoma have untreated tooth decay and the state lacks a school-based sealant program but the state does not reimburse medical professionals for providing basic preventive dental care.

One in five children across the country goes without dental care each year.

"I know with our practice, it doesn't cover overhead," says Johnson owner of SmileMakers in Harrisonburg.

Johnson volunteers his time and dental services to help and treat patients who can't afford services.

President of the American Dental Association Dr. Ronald Tankersley said that many around the nation were helping through different programs, but charity was not the solution to this big problem.

Seeing a dentist regularly is important for overall health as it keeps down costs and as a result, less treatment is needed.

The American Dental Association was thankful for the attention this study brought to dental policies, but did not agree with the grades assigned to each state.