CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — The mouth is a mirror of the body. It is a sentinel of disease and critical to overall health, yet oral health is the least accessed area of health care, particularly for low-income and uninsured Americans.
Each year in Utah, there are thousands of emergency department visits for oral health care, for which emergency departments are not generally equipped. Most of these patients are treated for pain and/or infection, but the source of the actual dental complaint remains untreated.
Apart from the high costs of emergency department visits for oral emergencies, access to affordable oral health care is an economic issue in other ways. Nationwide, 18% of all working-age adults and 29% of those with low income report that the appearance of their mouth and teeth affects their ability to successfully interview for work.
Currently, 62% of older Americans have no dental insurance. Traditional Medicare does not cover routine dental care; therefore, many lose their benefits upon retirement.
In Southern Utah, Family Healthcare dental providers see patients regardless of their financial, insurance or background situation, often caring for patients who have not seen a dentist for many years due to access and affordability issues. However, it takes the proverbial village to help those with the greatest need.
Family Healthcare relies on donations from community members as well as a strong partnership with the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. As the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California, the foundation is one of very few that supports access to oral health care for low-income patients.
“We are proud to partner with Family Healthcare to support their important mission of providing beneficial oral health care and preventive care services to in-need communities throughout Southern Utah,” said Kenzie Ferguson, vice president of the foundation and corporate social responsibility for Delta Dental of California. “The partnership enables us to achieve our broader mutual goals of increasing access to oral health care, especially for the underserved, and helping to make the communities we serve stronger, healthier and more resilient.”
Maria Amelia, a single mother who faces chronic economic fragility due to low income and other cultural and social barriers, came to Family Healthcare more than 10 years ago, where she receives medical and dental care. In 2022, she required bridge work on her front teeth. The costs associated with the procedure were well beyond her financial means.
Family Healthcare providers were able to help Maria Amelia by drawing on generous funding support provided by the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. She is grateful to have received financial support that allowed her to reclaim her oral health and a smile she is proud of.
Together, we can make lives better.
Written by LORI WRIGHT, CEO of Family Healthcare.
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Resources
- Family Healthcare | Address: 25 N. 100 East #102, St. George | Telephone: 435-986-2565 | Website.
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