The series revealed the abysmal state of dental health in West Virginia. The newspaper spotlighted people suffering with swollen faces, toothaches, gaping cavities, painful abscesses, lip cancer, gum infections and teeth cracked off because of an unsuccessful attempt at do-it-yourself dentistry. West Virginia leads the nation in the percentage of older adults who have had all their natural teeth removed.
Judges’ Comments: This comprehensive and uncompromising investigative series exposes the harsh calculus of Medicaid that pays to remove the teeth of impoverished citizens but fails to fund meaningful dental treatments. Combining an impressive mix of computer data, paper records and gumshoe reporting, the reporter powerfully describes the consequences of bureaucratic indifference and poor health habits.