Child Dies for Lack of Dental Care

I'm loth to get involved with the whole insurance thing, mainly because I'm probably extremely under-informed, but today's tragic story in the Post documenting one mother's loss of a son over the lack of a dentist prompted me to ask one question.

In the USA, as I understand it, if you can't afford a lawyer, one is appointed for you. Why can't we do the same thing with dentists? Is it truly easier to get criminal defense services than basic oral hygiene?

If so, am I the only one horrified? Are there lessons to be learned from the legal profession's ability to get paid while managing to serve the poorest sections of our society?
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