A United States surgeon David Satcher called oral disease a “silent epidemic” afflicting millions of minority and low income earners. In Mary Otto’s article, she highlights the problems affecting the oral health care. She derives her story from a young boy, Deamonte who died from a dental infection that spread to the brain. Dental care remains the most common un met health care need for the children in United States. The most influencing factors of poor dental care can be seen as: Cost of the services: When wages do not increase as quickly as the inflation rate then less and less disposable income is available for dental services.
For those who must pay for these services largely out of their pockets, dental services are becoming more expensive. Consequently, many families may be priced out of the dental care market even though dental fees are rising at the same rate as the cost of living. Statistics suggest that only about 18 to 20 percent of the total population is covered by dental insurance (Wotman& Goldman, 1982). In the article, she has highlighted a proposal by Elijah Cummings of dentists being offered incentives to be able to treat poor patients, creating oral health awareness to the parents and establishing preventive care programs for children (Otto, 2009).
Lack of community fluoridation programs: Fluoridation is the process of adding fluoride to water to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride helps in the mineralization of teeth by attracting other minerals like calcium which then speed up the process of rebuilding the teeth structure which was previously destroyed by bacteria. Fluoride also helps the teeth resist decay by strengthening the enamel coat and hence the teeth become more resistant to acid produced by the bacteria.
Low rates of dental coverage and lack of transportation to dental providers. This is a problem mostly affecting the low income earners who cannot afford trips to the dentists and consequently the wage is little and therefore they cannot afford to contribute for insurance cover. “As in the case with many poor families, transience as well as problems with transportation, phone services and mail delivery complicated Deamonte’s search for care” (Otto, 2009).
Recommendations: According to Allen Finkelstein a dental officer, care of the teeth should be integrated with the rest of the body. He suggests a ‘healthy home’ that requires all the children before going back to school to visit a dentist (Otto, 2009). Health care in the united State of America should put dental prevention and care on the same ground as the rest of the health care program. The article also suggests a reform where by the approach changes from treating decaying teeth to a preventive approach even before the decay has actually happened. The article continues to recommend the establishment of special programs to meet the needs of low income earners and the underserved population.
Reference list
Otto, M. (2009). Putting teeth in health-care reform. Advocates press to have dental issues addressed: ‘We’re always left out.’ The Washington Post.
Wotman, S. & Goldman, H. (1982).Pressures on the Dental Care System in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 7(72), 684-689. American public health association database.