Dental News - Study reveals poor state of US public dental care

Daniel Zimmermann, DTI

Mon. 23 May 2011

save

NEW YORK, NY, USA: US dentists are more likely to offer emergency dental care to children enrolled in private insurance schemes than those with Medicaid, the country’s health programme for the poor. These alarming findings are the result of an undercover study conducted among 85 dental practices in the state of Illinois. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania posed as mother of a fictional 10-year-old boy with an acute oral injury.

According to the study, only six dentists offered an appointment to children with public health insurance. However, chances increased significantly when dentists were enrolled in Medicaid. All dentists offered an appointment to privately insured children.

Medicaid currently reimburses all emergency dental care.

The findings confirm earlier studies that have painted a sad picture of the country’s dental health care system for disadvantaged children. According to a 2010 study by the PEW Center, one in five children in the US lack access to dental care owing to low income and resources. In the last few years, further investments in Medicaid have been ignored by state and government officials.

“Lack of funding is among the greatest barriers to better oral health in America. But funding alone will not ‘fix’ Medicaid. Patients need help navigating an often complicated bureaucracy and overcoming other barriers,” Raymond F. Gist, President of the American Dental Association (ADA) said on Monday. “These programmes cannot reach their potential without other significant reforms. These include reducing unnecessary red tape for dentists and patients, and helping patients overcome such related barriers as the needs for transportation, child care or permission to take time off from school or work to receive treatment.”

For years, the ADA has been lobbying for more Medicare funding. The association has also started a pilot programme to train health workers in providing treatment to people that have problems accessing oral health care.

To post a reply please login or register

ADA, Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors, CDC honor fluoridation efforts of states, communities

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: Marking 68 years of community water fluoridation, the American Dental Association (ADA), the Association of State and Territorial Dental...

State senator presents proclamation to Fialkoff Dental Study Club

QUEENS, N.Y., USA: New York State Sen. Jose Peralta presented a proclamation to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Northeast Chapter and the Fialkoff ...

Dental care habits of Americans are revealed in survey

New research detailing the dental habits and preferences of Americans was presented to the public as a way to help bring attention to World Oral Health Day,...

Fluoridation efforts of states and communities are honored

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: Marking 69 years of community water fluoridation, the American Dental Association (ADA), the Association of State and Territorial Dental...

State and local dental societies are honored for outstanding programs

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: The American Dental Association (ADA) recently honored state and local dental societies across the country with its Golden Apple Awards....

Hu-Friedy opens state-of-the-art dental product showroom

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: Hu-Friedy, a manufacturer of dental instruments and products, officially opened its new dental showroom at its West Campus facility in ...

AO reveals recipients of OF Research Grants

Recipients of the 2016-2017 Osseointegration Foundation (OF) Research Grants were announced at the Academy of Osseointegration’s 2016 Annual Meeting ...

Economic fears in the US affect dental care

LEIPZIG, Germany/WASHINGTON D.C., USA: With the economy in the United States declining, preventive dental care can be one of the first things to go. The ...

Economic fears in the US affect dental care

LEIPZIG, Germany: With the economy in the United States declining, preventive dental care can be one of the first things to go. The correlation between ...

Multimillion-dollar study on early-stage oral cancer underway

VANCOUVER, BC, Canada: Researchers from the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Faculties of Medicine, Science and Dentistry are leading a US$4.7 ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 13 May 2024
9:00 AM EST (New York)