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The other looming health crisis: Americans' lack of dental care - (National Dental Care drumbeat)
Chicago Tribune ^ | June 29, 2017 | Eric Zorn

Posted on 07/03/2017 10:20:25 AM PDT by re_tail20

Two years.

That's how long low-income children must wait for procedures that require general anesthesia at the pediatric dental clinic at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.

"We have babies come to us who already have a mouthful of decay," said Marcio da Fonseca, who heads UIC's department of pediatric dentistry and oversees the clinic. "It's the result of a combination of poor diet, poor oral hygiene, poor parental education and a lack of access to routine care."

The problem cases go on a waiting list for treatment under general anesthesia that's more than 800 names long.

Nearly all the clinic's patients are on Medicaid, da Fonseca said, and because only 1 in 5 private dentists now see Medicaid clients and many aren't taking new patients, families come to his West Side clinic from as far away as the Quad Cities and Springfield.

Greg Johnson, Illinois State Dental Society executive director, said Medicaid pays Illinois dentists about 20 cents on the dollar, one of the lowest reimbursement rates in the country, and that the number of participating dentists has dropped by more than 40 percent in the last two years.

Patients line up two days in advance for Mission of Mercy events, free weekendlong clinics offered every two years in Illinois for thousands of patients. Nationally, 114 million people have no dental coverage, compared to an estimated 28 million who lack medical coverage. Part of the reason is that many states provide skimpy or nonexistent Medicaid dental benefits for adults.

Da Fonseca said his clinic, which has 36 chairs and sees 18,000 patients a year, is running an annual deficit of more than $300,000.

And that's now, after what the American Dental Association says has been an era in which dental care for the poor has improved...

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: dental
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To: re_tail20

This issue was visible years ago in my area; I had three dentists in one year because two different ones retired (though they seemed young for that) and I eventually settled with a third. For years before that, visits to the dentist became less unpleasant because there was a lot less waiting; fewer and fewer people (insured or not) could afford treatment. That probably drove some dentists to simply close up shop and/or move to greener pastures where people still have discretionary dollars. Otherwise, it joins vacations and dining out as one of the first things people drop when they have to focus on paying rents/mortgages and buying food and gasoline.

I always thought dental insurance should be part of health insurance (regardless of how you obtain coverage).


21 posted on 07/03/2017 11:07:04 AM PDT by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: re_tail20

American middle class children and adults suffer from overly long hair, poorly trimmed beards, and unkempt mustaches.

——————The American Barber Asssociation


22 posted on 07/03/2017 11:09:49 AM PDT by sparklite2 (I'm less interested in the rights I have than the liberties I can take.)
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To: M Kehoe

Maybe if the feds would repeal Obamacare, we would have money to spend on dental care....instead of FINES for not being able to afford Healthcare.


23 posted on 07/03/2017 11:12:44 AM PDT by davidb56
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To: re_tail20
“We have babies come to us who already have a mouthful of decay,” said Marcio da Fonseca, who heads UIC’s department of pediatric dentistry and oversees the clinic. “It's the result of a combination of poor diet, poor oral hygiene, poor parental education and a lack of access to routine care.”

Without going into details, I grew up in a bit of an abusive household, and had horrible issues with my teeth as a child. My parents had good insurance, and a reasonable-enough education to know better, but lots of parents (too many) don't pay attention to what their children really need. When a child has extensive dental issues at 5-9 years of age this is not the child's fault. Yes, there are some children who might have defective enamel etc., but that is a minor percentage. This is much less a financial issue than an issue of having involved parents who make things like teaching their children good dental habits and encouraging good dietary habits - (e.g. not giving them chocolate milk etc. at bedtime) a priority.

24 posted on 07/03/2017 11:27:56 AM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: Democrats hate too much

I don’t go at all. I just drop mine into a cup with an Efferdent tab. LOL


25 posted on 07/03/2017 11:30:43 AM PDT by Viking2002 ("If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck." - John Steinbeck)
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To: re_tail20

“We have babies come to us who already have a mouthful of decay,”

, , , , ,

“Momma, da baby be crying. He hungry.”

“I know Shauntavius. But, I’z watching my favorite program. I feeds him later. Gib him another candy bar.”


26 posted on 07/03/2017 11:40:48 AM PDT by moovova
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To: re_tail20
How much dental care is under general anesthesia? I have had many detailed and extensive dental procedures but never under general anesthesia.
27 posted on 07/03/2017 1:00:06 PM PDT by Freee-dame (Best election ever.)
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To: Bluebeard16

“My question is why do dentist charge such ridiculous prices?”

Have you ever run a business?

Next time do it yourself and see how close you come to getting it right.

That’s the part that costs $1000.


28 posted on 07/03/2017 2:20:41 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: re_tail20

Join the club, Medicare/Tricare Life Senior Citizens have NO DENTAL, HEARING OR GENERAL VISION COVERAGE.


29 posted on 07/03/2017 2:43:07 PM PDT by GailA (Ret. SCPO wife: suck it up Buttercups it's President Donald Trump! DRAIN THE SWAMP)
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To: re_tail20

Next thing you know, the Liberals will be accusing us of being Anti-Dentites.


30 posted on 07/03/2017 2:45:41 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative ( THEY LIVE, and we're the only ones wearing the Sunglasses.)
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To: neverevergiveup

20 YR old grandson was a preemie, had excellent dental care, still had caps on most of his childhood teeth, as enamel failed. Permanent ones were fine, but he had to have braces.


31 posted on 07/03/2017 2:50:20 PM PDT by GailA (Ret. SCPO wife: suck it up Buttercups it's President Donald Trump! DRAIN THE SWAMP)
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To: RFEngineer

You must be a dentist. That much of a markup is ridiculous.


32 posted on 07/03/2017 4:27:58 PM PDT by Bluebeard16
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To: Bluebeard16

“You must be a dentist. That much of a markup is ridiculous.”

I run a business. The cost of providing service includes many things that must be paid for. The fabrication of a partial bridge is the least of these expenses.

I have no specific knowledge of dentistry. I know what it costs to be in business though.


33 posted on 07/03/2017 4:40:51 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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