Recent Articles February 23, 2010 Study: 1 in 5 Kids Don't See Dentist Each Year
At least one in five U.S. children go without annual dental care and most states lack key policies to ensure access to cost-saving preventive treatments, according to a study released Tuesday by the Pew Center on the States.
Six states received an "A" grade from the non-profit policy analysis group for their dental health policies. But even children in those states have problems accessing care, the report said.<more>
February 21, 2010 Dental Coverage Cuts leaves California's Poor in Pain: NPR
In California, it's been seven months since some 3 million poor and disabled adults lost their dental coverage to budget cuts.
And in thousands of dentist's offices and community clinics — from the rocky north coast to the Mexican border — it's the receptionists who are left to counsel and console patients who have lost their benefits."They will come here, crying they need help," says Claudia Rico, a receptionist at Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas, a safety-net dental clinic in the central coast town of Salinas.<more>
August 10, 2009, The Importance of Dental Coverage in our new Health Care Plan
Providing preventative health care is one of the most important strategies for lowering our nation’s health costs. We hear a lot about the 46 million Americans without health insurance, but rarely do we hear that more than twice that lack dental insurance. The case for dental coverage is the same as for health care. People without health care coverage often get sick with illnesses that could be treated at far less cost if caught early. When it comes to dental care, kids with minor tooth problems may end up with dental disease for the rest of their lives. This can hurt their ability to stay in school or get a job. Adults with missing teeth find it hard to get jobs as well.<view>
June 23, 2009, Putting Teeth in Health-Care Reform
The 2007 death of a Prince George's County boy because of an untreated dental abscess was a tragic reminder of the connection between oral health and overall health. Yet dental care remains the most common unmet health-care need of children in the United States. Tooth decay is five times as likely to be found in children as is asthma, which, like most common illnesses, is covered by health insurance. But at least 26 million children lack dental coverage, more than twice as many as lack medical insurance, according to federal health statistics.<more>
June 12, 2009 Campaign urges kids to say cheese, eat cheese.
Getting your child to brush their teeth just got a lot more lucrative. The California Milk Processor Board - the folks behind GOT MILK? - has teamed with the Dental Health Foundation to educate families on the importance of eating calcium rich foods as a way to help prevent tooth decay.The campaign includes a photo contest for children ages 6 to 12 years old. The child with the winning smile will get a $500 toy store shopping spree, an electric toothbrush and various GOT MILK? loot. <more> June 12, 2009, Loss of Medi-Cal dental care hard to swallow
Dennis Conkin desperately needs to have a tooth pulled, but the 56-year-old San Francisco man is considering having all his remaining teeth extracted before his Medi-Cal dental benefits end July 1.
"It's really unfortunate but also realistic. What's going to happen when the front one goes and I need a root canal? <more> June 12, 2009, Health center leaders lament possible loss of state support for dental care
Officials with Golden Valley Health Centers on Thursday urged state leaders to reverse plans to end adult dental care under Medi-Cal next month. "This fight will be a major struggle," Central Valley Health Network communications manager Hilda Martinez told a crowd of about 30. "It's important that we not balance the budget on the backs of the poor."
The Legislature in February decided to cut the benefit to adults, saving $115 million each year.
Denti-Cal covers about 3 million adults who are poor, elderly or disabled. <more> June 11, 2009 Adult dental cuts to Medi-Cal coverage could have dire consequences, providers say
San Bernardino County health care providers and advocates on Thursday rallied residents to urge lawmakers to spare state-funded medical and dental services that will be eliminated beginning July 1. A little more than $109 million in adult Medi-Cal dental benefits will end June 30 if lawmakers don't come up with a plan to save them, according to a UC San Francisco report issued this month. In February, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger agreed to eliminate some adult Medi-Cal services, identified as optional benefits, to balance the state budget. The adult dental program makes up about 3 percent of the state's total $36.6 billion Medi-Cal budget. <more> 08/2008, California HealthCare Foundation, The Good Practice: Treating Underserved Dental Patients While Staying Afloat
California's low reimbursement rates for Medicaid dental services stand as a major obstacle to improving the oral health of its low-income population. Denti-Cal, the state's primary public financer for dental care, has some of the lowest payments in the nation, offering dentists just 30% of customery fees. As a result, only four in ten California dentists accept Denti-Cal patients. 08/04/2008, California Healthline, Dental Advocates Fear Dentist Exodus From Denti-Cal
California dentists are increasingly questioning their involvement in Denti-Cal, the dental benefit program of Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. A 10% cutback in all Medi-Cal reimbursements approved by the Legislature earlier this year and upheld in court last week won't make things easier. But dentists say the amount of money they're paid is only part of the problem. 07/24/2008, Center for Studying Health System Change, Community Efforts to Expand Dental Services for Low Income People
Poor oral health among low-income people is gaining attention as a significant health care problem. Key barriers to dental services include low rates of dental insurance coverage, limited dental benefits available through public insurance programs, and a lack of dentists willing to serve low-income patients, according to findings from the Center for Studying Health System Change’s (HSC) 2007 site visits to 12 nationally representative metropolitan communities. Communities are attempting to provide more dental services to low-income residents. Along with state efforts to increase dentists’ participation in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), hospitals, community health centers, health departments, dental schools and others are working to expand dental services, with some focusing on basic preventive services and others pursuing more comprehensive dental care. Many community efforts rely on increasing the number of dental professionals available to treat low-income people. Without additional involvement from the dental community and state and federal policy makers, however, many low-income people likely will continue to lack access to dental care and suffer the consequences. 07/23/2008, www.cbsnews.com, Lining Up for Free Dental Care
Even before dawn, some people have been waiting for hours.
When Doane visited the line outside a free dental clinic, he asked "what time did you guys get here?"
"One o'clock," a group said. Others have waited for years just to see a dentist. It's a luxury the uninsured can't afford. "Oh gosh, no way," one said. The other: "Way too expensive." 07/15/2008, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Four Foundations Announce Study of Innovative Model
A partnership of four foundations announce the launch of a two-year study to determine the quality of service provided by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Dental Health Aide Therapist Program. This comprehensive evaluation of this model oral health program, will be conducted by RTI International of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The Dental Health Aide Therapist Program serves isolated Alaska Native communities, and is being evaluated for effectiveness with a goal of improving the quality of services to children and families vulnerable to some of the highest levels of measured oral health disease in the country. 07/07/2008, California Healthline, California Dentists Warn That Denti-Cal Cuts Will Take Toll on Kid's Care
Dentists participating in Medi-Cal's dental program are subject to the same 10% reimbursement cut as other health care providers participating in Medi-Cal. Some dentist warn that the cut will discourage more health care providers from participating in the program. Sacramento Bee.
06/10/2008, FOX6, San Diego Expands the Use of Fluoride in Drinking Water
The City Council Tuesday accepted $3.9 million in funding from a county-run commission that promotes health issues to begin fluoridating San Diego's public water suppy.
View PDF
05/20/2008, San Francisco Chronicle, "State budget to chop dental benefits for poor"
Last June 29, in proclaiming Dental Awareness Day, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the virtues of brushing, flossing and regular checkups. Now, to the dismay of many patients and health care advocates, the governor's budget seeks to eliminate most dental benefits for nearly 3 million poor, disabled and elderly people in California who rely on state-paid dental insurance. "Im not ready for a liquid diet just yet," said Barbara Sloan, 64, an Oakland resident.
View PDF 05/19/2008, Oakland Tribune, "Dentists, seniors warn against plan to cute dental benefits for adults on Medi-Cal"
Advocates for seniors and the low-income gathered at a Fruitvale district health clinic Monday to decry the governor's proposal to eliminate dental benefits for adult recipients of Medi-Cal.
View PDF 05/22/2008, Los Angeles Times, "Older L.A. County adults suffer from inadequate dental care"
Older adults in Los Angeles County are severely lacking dental insurance and many have cut back on oral healthcare because they cannot afford it, according to a broad new survey of men and women age 60 and older released this week... The results underscore the need for greater access to oral health coverage at a time when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed eliminating state-provided dental care for poor California adults to help cut a $17.2-billion state budget shortfall.
View PDF 05/20/2008, San Francisco Chronicle, "State budget to chop dental benefits for poor"
A new report released Monday, which analyzed the impact of eliminating most Medi-Cal dental benefits for adults - those living in nursing facilities are exempt - concludes that the budget proposal would cost the state $115 million in matching federal funds and cause far more expensive medical treatment. Overtaxed emergency rooms would become more crowded, and health issues for countless people would spiral.
View PDF 3/17/2008, Justice Talking, “What About Dental?”
Host Margot Adler speaks with professor and pediatric dentist Burton Edelstein about the relationship between dental care and overall health.
Listen to audio: Windows Media, MP3 (©2008, Justice Talking).
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