There are few things as disruptive to life as dental pain. When a tooth hurts, regardless of the cause, everyday tasks are almost impossible. If you have never experienced a painful tooth, consider yourself lucky. For those who have, you know who to see first: the dentist. For many, however, this option is painfully out of reach. As dental care becomes a luxury that few can afford without dental insurance (or even with insurance, in some cases), it is imperative that we take action to increase access to vital dental services.
A shocking one 68.5 million Americans estimated to be without dental insurance. The causes and reasons are complex, but the result is a huge gap in our health care system. At its most basic, insurance coverage for conditions that affect health “from the neck up” — from dental to vision to mental health care — can be expensive and problematic because these services are often considered “separate” from other physical ailments. (Medicaid makes no guarantees that you’ll get the type of care you need, when you need it, especially since coverage varies widely from state to state.)
Consequently, we face a health crisis in the US that disproportionately affects low-income and other marginalized populations. Not surprisingly, there is a growing dental gap between those lucky enough to keep their teeth and those whose only option is to have them pulled – with little hope of receiving expensive specialist care for root canals, implants or dentures. In addition, modern, responsible health care requires that we see, recognize, and address the connection between dental health and other physical and mental health conditions.
We at Medical Teams International see this regularly as dental providers in the Pacific Northwest. Since 1989, we have provided free, emergency dental care to adults in need in Washington and Oregon who would otherwise go without. We now see thousands of people and yet there are thousands more, even those with jobs, who still need dental care.
Through us Care & Connect Mobile Health program, we provide emergency dental care plus basic health screenings and referrals, helping to connect people to primary care. In the US, we treat patients year-round through the mobile clinics we deploy in areas of need served by our community partners and local health providers. Our clinics are staffed largely by volunteer dentists, dental assistants and nurses, and it’s powerful to see how people are transformed by compassionate, professional care.
For many of the patients we see, our clinics are the only interaction they have had in many years (or ever) with medical or dental professionals. We are seeing more and more people falling through the cracks of the system and often suffering from untreated chronic conditions. As mentioned earlier, Dental problems are often associated with more serious health complications that may be asymptomaticsuch as hypertension or diabetes.
Our goal is to remove barriers to health and dental care and go where we are needed most. The patients we see include people of color, immigrant and refugee populations, the homeless, and those who are uninsured, underinsured, or facing other challenges. We screen patients for other conditions and help them get the health care they need when they need it — preventing them from relying on emergency hospitals, which are not equipped to provide dental care.
In our clinics, extractions are the most common service performed by our dentists. Extracting a problematic tooth is the most effective way to relieve pain and rid the body of harmful infections. However, the result is that patients are left with missing teeth, affecting their self-image and their ability to chew — often there is not enough tooth left to save.
Root canals are common for people with insurance, but for those who don’t opt out this procedure can mean the spread of infection to surrounding tissue, tooth loss, or other more serious medical conditions.
When possible, Medical Teams offers Washington’s only free root canal clinic, staffed by Drs. Syed Bashar. Bashar understands the difficulties his patients face at these free clinics, having immigrated from Pakistan to the US with his family and very few resources. His clinic in Pakistan was similar to the one he works in at the Medical Groups Puyallup site — a single chair.
“Yes, things aren’t always perfect, but it challenges me as a clinician to do the work at the level of care that patients deserve, which is key,” says Bashar.
Daniela Aquino was a recent patient at Bashar’s clinic. He was in pain for months, but couldn’t afford the full cost of a root canal. Although she worked at a local restaurant, she barely had enough money each month to make ends meet for her family, let alone afford such expenses. Bashar was able to perform the procedure and leave her tooth intact, preserving her health and preventing her from missing days of work.
“I’m so thankful for this service and that I didn’t have to miss days of work to find help,” Aquino said.
Root canals are a time-consuming procedure, so Dr. Bashar can only serve four patients per clinic. However, it makes an incredible difference to those receiving the treatment. These root canal clinics are made possible through funding from MultiCare Health System.
“Oral health has a direct impact on a person’s overall well-being and quality of life, yet accessing oral health resources continues to be a challenge for many area residents,” explains Marce Edwards Olson, vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for MultiCare. “Working with medical groups to provide monthly root canal clinics is one way we can have a real and immediate impact on our neighbors who might otherwise go without care.”
I strongly believe that dental care is deeply connected to our sense of dignity. It honors one of the most important parts of the human body – our smile.
“Systemic change is long overdue, and in the time it takes for the wheels of change to turn, many people in our community are suffering,” said Chanda Moellenberg, director of US Programs Care & Connect Medical Groups. “If more health systems thought broadly about population health and channeled resources to those who specialize in treating vulnerable populations, we could see dramatic changes that would create a healthier community and nation for all.”
For a calendar of clinics, go to: st.news/clinics
