Adults from ages 21 on up are struggling with a lack of dental care if they are on Medicaid, Medicare, their current insurance doesn’t cover dental care, or they have no insurance. We urgently need to respond to this widespread and critical need because it has caused all-around health issues. Dentists who are kind enough to help are burdened by absorbing the high cost of the consumables used for free care. Healthy teeth are the door to better and lasting overall health. When a person has a dental problem, it causes a domino effect on their health and the cost of healthcare, due to the patient’s inability to eat a healthy diet. Damaged teeth affect a person’s self-esteem and quality of life. Many people who need help are hard working individuals who simply have not been offered dental care through work insurance or don’t earn enough to pay for care. Most patients are trapped in a cycle of taking antibiotics for abscesses and yet they are not able to see a dentist to treat the problem. A tooth infection can cause the loss of work, inability to eat healthy foods, the inability to focus on daily cares due to constant pain and can even lead to chronic illnesses.
Here is a list of the main issues we have found:
1. Medicare does not cover adult dental care unless it becomes life threatening and even then, it often means waiting many weeks for care. If a patient has Medicaid with the dental rider, they will cover extractions but very few individuals who come to us have Medicaid.
2. Care might be available in another county, but that county must see to the needs of its residents first. This creates a long waiting time and a long drive for some who don’t have transportation or money to get to the appointment.
3. Adults have put off care for years due to lack of funds and are afraid to even find out how much it will cost.
4. Many adults don’t know about the importance of dental care as it relates to their health. They might not seek care until it is too late.
5. They don’t have insurance or funds available to seek care.
6. They don’t have transportation or need a translator.
7. They don’t know which dentist will help them or how to get help.
How Dental Share Network Helps:
Dental Share Network creates a line of communication and funding for patients in need to connect with the appropriate dentist who can handle their issue. Most patients are referred to us through Good Shepherd Clinic, Prisma, LC4, or they find us online. Patients must meet the financial requirements to apply for help. We make the appointments, make sure the patient has transportation and if not, we find a way for them to get to their appointment, and help with the cost of antibiotics if necessary. We do not cover the cost of, nor do we have access to, opiate based pain medications. After we receive a patient’s name, we call them, collect their information and find out what dental issues they have. They are then placed on our waiting list. When funding is available for their care, we contact them, make the appointment, and meet them at the dental clinic. Funds are paid directly to the dental clinic or participating dentist’s office.
