Michigan must get serious about meeting the oral health needs of its most vulnerable residents by creating a coordinated system to address the problem, Michigan Dental Association President Connie Verhagen, D.D.S., M.S., said today.
Michigan’s continued economic downturn has made the needs more urgent than ever, Verhagen said, pointing to the challenges outlined in the American Dental Association’s new report, “Breaking Down Barriers to Oral Health for All Americans: Repairing the Tattered Safety Net.” View the report here.
The MDA estimates that as many as 2.8 million people in Michigan depend on the so-called oral health safety net, which primarily includes dental clinics in community health centers, hospitals, public schools and dental schools. Despite the growing need, not one of the 25 Michigan applicants received any of the $28.8 million in community health center grants announced this month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Midwest states in general were shut out, with most of the money going to states such as California and Texas.
“We know there are commonsense remedies that can greatly improve safety net programs even without major funding increases, which are unlikely to happen in this economic climate,” said Verhagen, a Muskegon dentist. “Any systematic approach to meeting these needs must include dentists in private practice, as the ADA study concludes.”
In Michigan the Calhoun County Community Dental Access Initiative has proven so successful since its inception in 2007 that a pilot project for a similar program is under way in nearby Muskegon County. The Muskegon Volunteer for Care program takes Calhoun’s unique approach and involves low-income patients through a commitment to community service in exchange for oral health education and dental care. By providing dental services after the patient has put in the community service hours, emergency room visits are reduced, as are no-show rates.
“We’re very committed to the volunteer piece because it allows people to learn what it’s like to give back to the community – it empowers them,” said Jackie Balcom, RHD, M.Ed., who works for the Muskegon County Health Department and manages the program. “It’s important for patients to learn the value of oral health care and for them to begin to take the responsibility to improve their overall health.”
The Calhoun County initiative has shown an impressive return on investment. It costs about $117,000 annually to fund the initiative, but the value of the services donated by dentists and by patients totals nearly $600,000 annually.
The ADA report acknowledges the positive efforts of thousands of dentists, health professionals and others struggling to maintain services but concludes that what is lacking is a fundamental understanding of the vital role oral health plays in overall health.
“Major improvements in the dental safety net will not occur until the nation places much greater value on oral health,” said ADA President Raymond F. Gist, D.D.S., a Flint dentist. “Treating disease that could have been easily prevented or treated in its early stages but has instead progressed to chronic infection and lost teeth, gum tissue or bone is one of the major reasons the oral health safety net remains overwhelmed.”
The MDA works to educate the public about oral health, promotes the science and art of dentistry, and provides educational materials and services to its 5,500 members, enhancing their ability to provide quality care.