January 2016
Welcome to the new e-newsletter from North Dakotans for Dental Access. Our coalition is working hard to improve dental access for underserved populations in North Dakota, and we’re committed to keeping you up-to-date about our progress. Look forward to receiving a newsletter each month with a summary of the latest news on the dental access issue.
2015 was a big year for North Dakotans for Dental Access. We worked during the legislative session and beyond to raise awareness of the dental access issue across the state and educate the public about the benefits of expanding the dental workforce, including using advanced practice dental hygienists to increase access to dental care. As you can imagine, this is an important issue that received a lot of media attention. Below are a handful examples of the media coverage we received and you can read the entire collection on our website.
Thanks for reading!
State Dentists Lobby is Blocking Potential Source of Low-cost Care
By Will Drabold − Seattle Times
Natasha Fecteau’s mouth was a mess. The Bremerton resident had an abscessed tooth in the rear of her mouth that she routinely drained with a stab from a safety pin — until it swelled again and she had to repeat her crude dental relief.
Read more.
Improving Dental Care Access in Rural America
By Rebecca Singer and Julie Stitzel − Stateline
Rural communities face serious challenges to oral health, resulting in a high incidence of cavities and other dental problems. Compared to people in urban settings, rural residents are poorer and less likely to have dental insurance. Their communities are less likely to have fluoridated water, and they often have to travel long distances to find a dentist.
Read more.
BLOG: Is Crony Capitalism a Big Reason for America’s Dental Health Crisis?
By Wendell Potter − Huffington Post
For an example of how Big Money in politics is causing real harm to average Americans, look at the practice of dentistry in this country.
Read more.
Health Investments that Pay Off: Strategies to Improve Oral Health
National Governors Association Paper
Executive Summary
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among American children. Although most Americans enjoy relatively good oral health, low-income families are disproportionately affected by dental-related disease. In particular, children living below the poverty level are two to three times more likely to suffer from untreated tooth decay than those who are economically better off.
Read more.