Access To Dental Care Remains Challenging For Low-Income People

Main Category: Dentistry
Article Date: 05 Mar 2007 - 11:00 PDT

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Access to dental care is "an often overlooked concern in the debate over universal health coverage," as some low-income children have no dental coverage and other people have limited access to care, the Washington Post reports. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the federal government requires state Medicaid programs to cover oral health care for children, but there is a shortage of dentists who are willing to treat beneficiaries. A study by the conference found that many dentists "also cite administrative frustrations dealing with the Medicaid bureaucracy" and the challenges of serving low-income and "often transient" patients, the Post reports. In addition, the Post reports that Medicaid reimbursement rates for dentists "remain low" across the country. Access to dental care for low-income families also can be complicated by lack of transportation, periods of homelessness and interrupted telephone and mail services. According to Norman Tinanoff, chief of pediatric dentistry at the University of Maryland Dental School, access is worst in rural areas, where some families have to travel hours to receive dental care. Tinanoff said serious and high-cost medical needs are "not uncommon" among those who do not receive dental care. According to experts, tooth decay is the most common childhood disease nationwide. The Post also profiled access problems for a 12-year-old Maryland boy who died after bacteria from a tooth abscess spread to his brain (Otto, Washington Post, 2/28).

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