More than 100 million Americans do not go to the dentist for checkups and cleanings because of the cost. As a result, many go broke trying to afford dental care or suffer from extreme pain. Some die.
Nearly 5 million American children, or one in 16, did not get regular dental checkups in 2008 because their families could not afford it.
Going without dental care can ruin lives.
Louis Morris, 33, of Philadelphia, found out on Saturday while seeing a dentist for the first time in 15 years at a volunteer clinic that his gum infection had worn away at his jawbone, could spread to other parts of his body and wipe out all of his teeth.
Forgoing dental care sometimes is fatal. Kyle Willis, a 24-year-old father from Cincinnati, died from a tooth infection last year because he could not afford antibiotics or to get the tooth pulled out. The infection spread, caused his brain to swell and then killed him.
12-year-old Deamonte Driver also died when a tooth infection spread to his brain.
People end up dying, and these are the most treatable, preventable diseases in the world. Getting access to dental care is particularly tough for low-income adults and children.
"People want to believe there's a safety net that catches all of these people, and there isn't," said Dr. Glenn Stream, president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Dr. Jim Jirjis, director of general internal medicine at Vanderbilt University, said people, like Willis, without access to care often die of conditions that were much more common decades ago.
"He [Willis] might as well have been living in 1927," Jirjis said. "All of the advances we've made in medicine today and are proud of, for people who don't have coverage, you might as well never have developed those."
There are a number of free dental clinics in operation around the country, where dentists volunteer to provide care to those without health insurance. But even if Willis had access to a free dental clinic, Stream said he still may not have been able to get the care he needed for his infection. "The wait is often months at these clinics, and this young man died within two weeks of his problem," Stream said.
Silverstein operates three free dental clinics in the San Diego area. "We're overwhelmed right now," he said. "We can't take any new patients." (This is the same thing I heard when I called the dental place in our area that works with low income people. They are not taking new patients... They haven't been for three years now.)
What do you think about the facts above? When was the last time you visited the dentist?
Image Source
True 
Comments (29)
I heard one of the leading causes of heart attacks was related to dental issues.
I can't afford dental care. I haven't been since I moved out of my parents house, 5 years ago.
@Lynn Males@facebook - I take excellent care of my teeth, brush 2-3 times a day, floss everyday, use mouthwash everyday etc but because of other health problems I had to get a tooth extracted two days ago, I also had to get all EIGHT impacted wisdom teeth out a year ago. I would never go to the dentist but it IS necessary unfortunately, no matter how careful I am, there is no laziness about it. I understand your fear, I have to take a lorazepam, bring a stress ball and listen to meditation music every time I go to a dentist, or any type of doctor, just to sit in the office even if I am not the one with the appointment
I go for cleanings every year but I do not visit the dentist. i do not think that dentists are well regulated. Instead of taking out my broken back wisdom tooth, they wanted to pt in a a crown. There was a faint crack in one of my other teeth and they wanted to shave it and put in the crown, even though the crack was very superficial. I feel that they want to get the biggest bang for their buck and are not answerable to the same oversight and economic constraints that medicine is. In short, I don't trust them.
I hadn't been to the dentist since 1987 (literally), my family was accepted into a dental clinic but the waiting list is 18+ months. I wrote a local dentist asking if he'd be willing to help me as my dental issues are rather horrible. He's since taken me on as a patient, diagnosed me with periodontal disease, and has started work to get everything healthy again. I never knew all the health issues that could stem just from oral health. I'm pretty thankful he's working with me. Take a chance, I'm not saying it'll work out but what do you have to lose? Dental care needs to be made affordable like many other things here however we all know that it's not going to happen.
My mom is one of those people suffering because she can't afford dental care. Her teeth have literally rotted out. I worry about her constantly but since she can't afford insurance and she's apparently not broke enough (despite only making a bit more than minimum wage) for insurance through the state, I just have to continue to worry.
My grandmother couldn't afford to take my mom to the dentist when she was a kid (or maybe she just didn't care, I'm still not sure) and now my mom's teeth was pretty crappy. It seems like every time she does in for a cleaning she has to follow up with something else. I'm hopefully going to be able to afford to buy into my firm's dental insurance so I don't have to fun into a similar situation as my brother (shell out the cash for a cleaning, then finding out I have to get other dental work done out of pocket because of cavities).
Going to the dentist is expensive, even with insurance. I remember a few years ago I cracked one of my teeth in the back. Couldn't go to the dentist because I was a college student that made a little over minimum wage that worked like 20 hours a week. I couldn't ask money from my parents since they were struggling. I just left it alone until recently. With my new job, I was able to get insurance and was able to take care of that problem. However, it still cost me a lot, and I still have problems I need to fix.
@TheTheologiansCafe@xanga - When you swallow teeth plaque, it's the same as the plaque that builds up and blocks veins and arteries of unhealthy individuals.
I haven't looked into "Obamacare" details, but i'm sure it would help lower this horrible statistic.
I don't have dental insurance so I haven't gone to the dentist in a couple of years and I really need to go =\
I can't afford insurance but since when was that the end all be all of keeping my teeth healthy? I still see a dentist at least twice a year.
Has anybody ever called around asking for prices and lletting the dentist know you will be paying cash? It seems to go a long way out in my city. As a matter of fact, my routine cleanings cost 55 dollars. If I need a filling it can cost 100-250 dollars depending on size and location.
Now let's compare that to my 'insurance' option that I could sign up for. They want 50 dollars a month and the first 600 dollars of dental care is mine to pay too. After that, my insurance will pay half the cost.
Dentists, just like doctors are tired of billing insurance. First, it's a hassle to bill them and second, insurance can take months to pay! It's a cash flow issue. They will discount you some major bucks for not having to bother with that crap. True, I can't afford insurance but I still can keep my teeth nice.
I want these people to get more care.
But the waiting list problem could likely be agitated and made greater by Obama Care, not made better.
I agree, though, there needs to be some sort of help for these people. I don't think socialism is the best answer. I wish more individuals would volunteer--then there wouldn't be the danger of below-par care, long waiting lists, etc.
I think that there are very good reasons for shortages of dentists. I wouldn't become a doctor of any kind right now.
i have stand-alone dental insurance for $15/month, and i see my dentist twice a year. my mom works in health care, so i'm big on doctors' visits. i never miss one.
I have never seen any dentist in my whole life and yet I do not have any tooth problem, want to see how I do it, it can save you hugh medical bill
http://wealthandhealth.co.cc/life
I think the number is higher then 1 in 3..
I work at a dental clinic, and even the people who do have dental insurance still don't bother to come to the dentist. I guess they just want the safety net, although in reality most insurances are quite low in their dollar amount of coverage given out each year. Anyway, FYI not flossing is the biggest gateway toward dental issues. Try it some time because dentists are for sure outrageously expensive.
Last time was in 07 i had my wisdom teeth cut out right before i tured 18 and lost coverage. I just make sure to take care of them if i was having a lot of pain i would do what needed done but my husband and i just dont have hundreds on hand to afford to go and the insurance is not any cheaper.
I went through Chemo and it's now been almost 7 years ... It has now greatly affected my teeth .. I do have issues, but unfortunatley, I have no Health Insurance ... It's truly shameful that those who really need help cannot get it and those who abuse the system get everything free !! I have real issues with this ...
Best way to solve the medical problems is to close down all private insurance companies; set up a nation-wide compulsory medical insurance schem to cover everyone and everything; make it compulsory for medical staff to treat all and sundry; guillotine reactionaries outside a hospital until all are in accord.
The last time I went was when I was pregnant because I had an ulcer or something. The time before was about a month before I turned 18 - dental care in NZ is free until you're 18.
i haven't gone to see a dentist since i got my braces in 2006. and i haven't been to my orthodontist since i got my braces taken off in 2009... i personally think i need a cleaning but my friend recently said she was jealous of how white my teeth are O.O i just took the compliment lol
Dental care IS expensive. And it's important. I hope that it will be considered the critical part of medical care it is as the USA modifies it's medical care situation.
That being said I want to stand up and shout HURRAY! because dental care is still an awesome bargain healthwise. I went to the dentist yesterday. A hygienist spent 35 minutes with me cleaning my teeth, removing plaque, etc etc using a wide variety of equipment. They were professional, pleasant, efficient.
Then I had two teeth filled. The dentist and an assistant spent another 40 minutes with me, again using a wide variety of equipment, tools, etc. THey were professional, caring, fully suited up, etc etc.
A 10 minute visit with ANY medical dr I've been to in the past decade has been a charge of 150 dollars. One of my tooth fillings, which took WAY longer than ten minutes, involved two staff members and a LOT of equipment to sterilize etc, and will most likely last me decades, cost what one ten minute dr's visit usually does.
Dental care, as expensive as it is, is more affordable than most types of medical care. For non cosmetic work, it's the best deal in town.
Brush. floss, mouthwash and healthy eating would lessen the need for dentists considerably, we don't look after our teeth properly. Makes me sad. It's terrible that people are dying from not being able to seek treatment, I can't help but think they caused most of the problems themselves though...
Dentist and opticians should be cheaper I think, peoples health should be a priority for any government.My dentist is also one of my uncles. He recommends a sonicare toothbrush and fluoride only if you have new teeth that have pushed through (i.e. when you're losing your baby teeth). To cut costs of dental cleanings, find a dental school near you. The students do the exam while being overseen by an instructor and you can get dental care for little to no cost.