The unmet need for dental care is all around us, from urban
to suburban areas, as well as in rural areas. This is true even in
many communities that are growing and prosperous.
Where I live in the Twin Cities we like to boast about our
quality of life and rankings in those "best places to live" reports.
But there are many residents of our metropolitan area who do
not have insurance or the financial means to access dental care.
One reason is that most dentists nationwide don't accept
Medicaid patients, and even those who do might cap the number
of Medicaid enrollees that they will see. A report last year by
the Government Accountability Office revealed that there were
25 states in which fewer than half of all dentists treated a single
Medicaid patient (http://www.gao.gov/htext/d1196.html).
That's why it is so critical for organized dentistry to expand
its volunteer efforts to provide care to low-income, underserved
populations. In my home state, I am proud to say that the
Minnesota Dental Association is committed to this objective.
During the first weekend of February, more than 3,000 dental
professionals and interpreters in Minnesota volunteered at
hundreds of locations around the state to offer dental care. This
was accomplished through the "Give Kids a Smile" program,
which is sponsored by the Minnesota Dental Association. These
dentists were able to treat thousands of kids, many of whom
haven't seen a dentist in years.
Since 2003, San Joaquin County in California has operated
one of the most impressive volunteer dental programs. First
and foremost, it is a year-round program. One of the clinics
provides free dental care to low-income kids three days a week.
That's 150 days of free dentistry at one location; what a wonderful
opportunity for the children and volunteers alike!
Making that kind of impact is possible because the program
is drawing on the voluntarism of more than 30 dentists.
In other words, the actual reach of these volunteer programs
depends on the number of dentists who lend their services. We
are the only people who can fill the blanks on the schedule.
Dentists all have an excuse not to volunteer, but once they participate
they are overwhelmed by the experience. They can't
wait until the next opportunity.
Unlike the California program, many of the free dental programs
across the country operate only for a few days or for one
month – often, they occur in February for Dental Health
Month. It would be ideal to see this change – for more states and
communities to offer care for longer periods of the year.
Dentists who are not yet involved in volunteer care efforts
should consider contacting their state dental associations.
Generally, these associations have existing programs through
which they seek to connect dentists with communities in need.
[Editor's note: Check out our extensive list of resources here.]
If you are a dentist who already participates in these volunteer
projects, consider talking to other dentists about these activities
and encourage them to join you in getting involved. It
could make a difference in attracting more of your peers to join
these activities. The research appears to show the importance of
dentist-to-dentist dialogue. In fact, a 2008 study of a volunteer
dental program in Israel found that 68 percent of participating
dentists had heard about the program from another dentist.
I had an opportunity to introduce three dentists and their
staff to "Give Kids a Smile" in February. They felt that helping
the underserved not only made them appreciate their work, it
helped the teams work better together. There is a nationwide
mobile dentistry program I have worked with called Christina's
Smile. If a PGA tournament comes through your city, chances
are the semi-truck with a tooth and golf club come too. The program
focuses on the needs of the underserved and parks in front
an elementary school in St. Paul. The kids can walk to the facility
during the three-day stay!
There are many unique programs that communities have
designed to fit their needs. These programs can only thrive if
volunteers commit to a shift or two a year. Together we can make
a difference in the lives of people who cannot seek regular dental
care – it is up to each of us.
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