While 17 percent of Coloradans have no medical insurance - about 790,000 people - U.S. Census Bureau figures show that more than three times as many have no dental coverage.

A quarter of all third-graders in the state have untreated dental decay, figures show.

The consequences go beyond the achy jaw or gap-toothed smile, Paulson said.

We visit the dentist twice a year, and have ever since the kids were toddlers. They have a good relationship with their dentist and have had very, very few cavities.