Economy, Oral Health A Sore Subject
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Bad Economy Affecting Teeth
Bad teeth seem to be a result of the bad economy.CENTRAL OHIO—The wallet hasn’t been the only place folks have been feeling the economic pinch.
Bad teeth seem to be a result of the bad economy.
Forty-three percent of Ohio residents don’t have dental insurance, according to a 2007 study.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) said that percentage continues to grow as more people lose their jobs.
NBC 4’s Mikaela Hunt reported on WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU and what the state is trying to do to fight the problem.
At Dr. Sam Smiley’s Dublin dental practice, he has not been dealing only with patients who have toothaches.
The economy also has been a sore subject.
“If they broke a tooth they want to get it fixed temporarily. They don’t want … they’re not interested in doing something costly or expensive,“ Smiley said.
ODH said not enough people have been going in for simple checkups because they can’t afford it.
“Access to oral health care is the No. 1 unmet health-care need amongst Ohioans,“ said ODH’s Dr. Mark Siegal.
Siegal called it the Sleepy Hollow insurance effect: People who have jobs have insurance, but many times they’re like the Headless Horseman. They have limited coverage for dental, vision and mental.
ODH started a series of forums Tuesday to address the oral health-care and dental-access issue.
During the next few weeks, they’ll try to figure out a way to help people statewide get to the dentist.
It won’t be easy in a state that’s facing a massive budget crunch.
It’s going to be what kind of creative thing can people come up with in times that are so difficult,“ Siegal said.
Without some sort of solution, though, more people may ignore their dentists and the impact will be far greater than just a toothache.
Gum disease can turn into an heart issue.
“I’m not trying to scare anybody, but it’s real important they get their teeth taken care of. High blood pressure could be another issue they could have,“ Siegal said.
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Reader Reactions
Insurance companies even when you have a fairly good dental coverage still sucks. We’ve had dental insurance, however, what they pay is little of nothing when you need crowns and major dental work.
That half adds up. Now, since my husband has Medicare and we’re both unemployeed right now. I learned what it is not to have dental insurance, there are very few dentists in Columbus and the suburbs who will take Medicaid. Shame on them.
People who become ill with cancer,and other major diseases can’t help if they are limited to their range of activity. We are people to that use to pay into insurance plans for twenty-five to thirty years. We deserve better.
Now, attending college again to help the family finances since my husband can’t will help myself but not him. I know I can get decent medical, dental, and other benefits but my husband will not benefit because of his pre-existing condition of cancer.
The congress and US senate should pass some bill, that people who hardly used their medical insurance until some horrible disease prevents them from working anymore when they were between jobs. Lots of things happen in life you can’t prevent.
Medicare and medicaid should be more lax in this area especially for the past hard working individuals….NOT THE BUMBS, LIKE THE ONES THAT HARDLY WORK.
My husband lost his job last year. I called to cancel my dental appointment because we did not have insurance. I was told that was too bad - to call and make a new appointment when we got some. Maybe dentists need to think about discounts for cash and be willing to work with people instead of focusing on insurance coverage alone.
ZOOM on in. BRUSH off those fears. XRAY your wallet. Don’t let no boss deny you your FLOSS. Without good ENAMEL your heart will be flamable. Spit, rinse and repeat. Please somebody shoot me!
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