Starting Thursday Virginia’s Medicaid program expands to include dental benefits. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch $35 million in federal and state funding will pay for a range of dental care services to over 750,000 low income Virginians. Currently Medicaid only pays for emergency tooth extractions for adults. The expanded benefit includes preventative care with up to 3 checkups per year. Around 1,500 dentists will accept the new benefit payments.