Free clinic at Fayetteville’s Crown Expo Center to help those with dental needs
By Paige Rentz, The Fayetteville Observer, N.C. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The 47-year-old
As a former customer service representative, Spaulding knows the importance of having a good smile.
"It's the first thing people see," she said.
But oral health extends far beyond a first impression. Spaulding said she came to the clinic seeking help with a bad tooth and partials that need to be repaired.
"A lot of people feel like dental work is cosmetic, but until you have a bad tooth that gives you pain and you can't afford to get it out," she said, people don't always understand how critical dental care really is.
Dentists and doctors agree that maintaining a healthy mouth is key to overall health, despite the separation that often exists between dental care and what is more often considered core medical care.
Dr.
Blaylock noted strong correlation between heart disease and gum disease. Inflammation, he said, makes it harder for the body to use insulin and maintain blood sugar, meaning oral infections are especially complicating for diabetics. In turn, diabetics, have a harder time fighting the inflammation in their mouths.
"If you control one, it helps control the other, no matter which side you attack," Blaylock said.
Dr.
"People tend to keep that as a mind-set," he said.
Jain said he does oral health screenings for all of his patients, sometimes applying a special varnish that protects children's teeth.
"By doing this preventive work," he said, "we're doing an ounce of work to prevent a pound of cure later."
But for many people, even those with health insurance, the cost of dental care is out of reach.
Although the Affordable Care Act now requires most Americans to purchase health insurance and provides tax credits to make it more affordable for low-income Americans, dental coverage for adults is not one of the 10 essential benefits required of health coverage. And subsidies cannot be applied toward separate dental plans offered through the
According to a 2012 report from the
Low-income adults also wait longer to see dentists. Only 42 percent of individuals with incomes below 200percent of the poverty level have seen their dentist within a year. For those with incomes at least twice the poverty level, the rate is 70percent. More than one-in-five low income Americans haven't seen a dentist in five years or more.
That's why more than 845 volunteers and local sponsor organizations -- including the
The vast turnout at the event, now in its third year, highlights the need for dental care in the community and the lack of affordable access to oral care.
According to Missions of Mercy's Blaylock, the organization saw its 50,000th patient at a clinic last month, and volunteer dentists have donated
Last year,
"This is so little when you look at all the dental need out there," she said. "With our limited funds, we want to relieve pain and to treat the most serious dental conditions."
Many patients desperate to relieve pain end up in the emergency room, where little can be done to fix the underlying problem, said
"We see a wide variety of dental complaints ... Really, theres' very little we can do except pain control and antibiotics."
Cape Fear Valley's
Unlike with other complaints, Messner said, the
"We would love it if there were dentists around town who maybe just rotated as to who did some freebies," Messner said. "That would be huge... because there are people in pain."
Staff writer
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