• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy US dental care crisis: It should not be a luxury to keep your teeth in your mouth
Economy

US dental care crisis: It should not be a luxury to keep your teeth in your mouth

by May 22, 2024
by May 22, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

As chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, I recently held a hearing about the dental care crisis in the United States.

Ahead of that hearing, I asked Americans from across the country to share their experiences with dental care in our country.

The responses poured in from people who told us: ‘I am in constant pain,’ ‘I can’t afford dental care,’ ‘I can’t find a dentist,’ ‘My insurance won’t cover the dental procedures I need,’ and ‘I worry about my children’s health.’

One person from Georgia told me that she has had temporary caps on her two front teeth after breaking them as a child. For 15 years, she hasn’t been able to afford permanent replacements. Her caps flake off into her food every time she eats.

A gentleman from Wisconsin shared that it will cost him $1,000 per tooth to get crowns to cover his cracked and broken teeth. He has dental insurance, but they won’t cover the procedure.  

These are the type of responses you might expect if we were living in a third world country. But we are living in the richest country in the history of the world.

Today in America, nearly 70 million adults and nearly 8 million children have no dental insurance. Many of those who do have dental insurance find that coverage to be totally inadequate.

In fact, nearly half of Americans who have dental insurance have skipped their appointments because they could not afford to pay for the procedures they need.

Nearly one out of every five seniors in America have lost all of their natural teeth and, many of them cannot afford dentures.

Among older Americans, 70% have some sort of periodontal disease, which can lead to rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

The dental crisis does not just impact seniors.

More than 40% of children in America have tooth decay by the time they reach kindergarten – primarily because their parents could either not afford or could not find a dentist on time.

The lack of affordable dental care in America is especially acute for low-income Americans, pregnant women, people with disabilities, veterans, those who live in rural communities, and Black, Latino and Native Americans.

The situation has become so absurd, that every year hundreds of thousands of Americans travel to countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, India, Thailand and Hungary, where it is much less expensive to get the dental care they need – even after paying for round-trip airfare and hotel stays.

And it’s not difficult to understand why:

A dental implant in America can cost about $5,500 compared to around $850 in Mexico, $800 in Costa Rica and $450 in India.The average price of a root canal in America is $1,275 compared to less than $250 in Mexico.A Zirconia crown in America can cost about $2,500 compared to around $500 in Mexico, $450 in Costa Rica and $215 in India.Dentures that cost about $1,800 in America can be purchased in Mexico for around $670.

Let’s be clear. When we talk about dental care, we’re not just talking about having straight teeth and a pretty smile.

If people don’t receive high-quality dental care they are in danger of living their lives in severe pain.

A major cause of absenteeism from school is toothaches and dental pain.

Nearly half of adults in America have some form of periodontal disease, which makes them two to three times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or some other serious cardiovascular emergency.

And when your teeth are in bad shape and you cannot chew your food properly, you are at greater risk of diabetes, digestive problems and poor birth outcomes.

If we are going to seriously address the dental crisis in America, Congress is going to have to act boldly.

That is why I recently introduced the most comprehensive piece of dental care legislation in the history of our country.

Let me very briefly describe what this legislation would do.

First, it would substantially expand the number of dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists in America – particularly in rural and underserved areas.  In my view, it is unacceptable that 67% of rural communities in America are designated as Dental Professional Shortage Areas. What that means is that millions of rural Americans in our country either have to travel long distances to get to a dentist or simply go without the care they need. This bill would seriously address that issue.

Second, we need to make sure that the dentists we do have start serving more low-income people. In America today, only a third of our dentists provide care to people on Medicaid, and only a very small percentage are providing care for those who are underserved. This legislation would address that issue by increasing reimbursement rates for dental procedures under Medicaid.

Third, we have got to substantially expand high quality and comprehensive dental insurance in America. It is unacceptable that about half of our nation’s seniors do not have comprehensive dental insurance because traditional Medicare does not cover most dental procedures. It is also unacceptable that 12 million adults and children throughout the country lost Medicaid dental coverage last year. 

Further, when our nation’s veterans are 60% more likely to experience tooth decay than non-veterans, it makes no sense that the vast majority of veterans who receive medical care through the VA are not eligible for dental coverage. That is why this bill expands Medicare, Medicaid and the VA to provide comprehensive dental coverage to every senior, veteran and low-income person in America and makes dental care an essential benefit under the Affordable Care Act.

Finally, this bill would substantially expand dental care services that community health centers provide in schools and nursing homes all over America. In 2022, Federally Qualified Health Centers provided dental care to over 6 million people across the country regardless of their ability to pay.  

In my state of Vermont, 9 out of our 11 health centers provide quality, affordable dental care to nearly 40,000 people across the state. Moreover, most of the health centers in Vermont also offer dental services in schools. Nationally, 89% of health centers offered dental services. In my view, we should expand dental care to all health centers in America and that’s precisely what this bill would do.

All over America people are finding themselves in terrible pain. They can’t find a dentist to treat their problems.

It should not be a luxury in this country to keep the teeth in your mouth.

It is time for us to get our national priorities straight.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Second senator calls for Israel-Hamas cease-fire
  • WATCH: Biden gets barked at by Irish president’s dog
  • 2024 GOP candidates call last week’s Supreme Court decisions a win for ‘freedom’
  • McConnell urges tighter border security in Biden’s budget request along with support for Israel, Ukraine
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
Michael Cohen swore he had nothing derogatory on Trump, his ex-lawyer says – another lie – as testimony ends
next post
Hims & Hers Health says it will offer compounded GLP-1 injections

You may also like

6 months on, families of US hostages in Gaza stuck...

April 2, 2024

Hunter Biden attends pre-trial hearing in Delaware court on federal...

May 24, 2024

‘Spoiled’ Hollywood actors should get back to work, says one...

August 3, 2023

RFK Jr. says Biden ‘much worse’ threat to democracy than...

April 2, 2024

GOP Senators demand accountability from Biden after China committed ‘flagrant...

June 16, 2023

House oversight chair promises subpoenas for Joe, Hunter Biden: ‘Tax...

November 6, 2023

DeSantis hits back at McCarthy for saying he’s not on...

September 19, 2023

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin in ‘good condition’ as hospitalization approaches...

January 14, 2024

Biden shuns calls to de-escalate, vows US ‘has Israel’s back’...

October 11, 2023

New York City Mayor Eric Adams demands ‘national czar’ for...

January 18, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Amazon taps Xbox co-founder to lead new team developing ‘breakthrough’ consumer products

      May 30, 2025
    • Nvidia results spark global chip rally

      May 30, 2025
    • Boeing to resume airplane deliveries to China next month, ramp up Max production, CEO says

      May 29, 2025
    • Nuclear Power Trio: OKLO, SMR, and CCJ in Focus

      May 29, 2025
    • Analyzing SIL, USO, and NVDA: Could These Bullish Patterns Trigger?

      May 29, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,764 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,470 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,450 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,430 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,307 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,105)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,578)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Amazon taps Xbox co-founder to lead new team developing ‘breakthrough’...

      May 30, 2025
    • Nvidia results spark global chip rally

      May 30, 2025
    • Boeing to resume airplane deliveries to China next month, ramp...

      May 29, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,105)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,578)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Is it too late for DNC...

    July 12, 2024

    CBO director informs House Republicans that...

    March 2, 2023

    Gavin Newsom celebrates ‘incredible’ store claiming...

    July 4, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here