Dental care failure

IU does more than just educate students. The various branches of the school also help Indiana residents, especially in health care areas.

Recently, the University has been lauded for its Seal Indiana program, run by the IU School of Dentistry, which “provides mobile dental care each year to about 2,000 low-income children within 120 miles of Indianapolis,” according to the Indianapolis Star.

This is a big step for the state which just received an F for children’s dental health, according to the Pew Center.  “Dental health care is the biggest unmet health care need among children,” Shelly Gehshan, director of the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign, said.

Why did Indiana rank so low, despite the fact that nearly 95 percent of residents drink fluoridated water? Many are blaming Medicaid, whose reimbursement rates are below the national average for the fall from Indiana’s D grade of last year.

But even though Indiana has once again proven that Medicaid isn’t enough, that isn’t the only problem. The distribution of dentists throughout the state is also a big problem. Though Hamilton County has one dentist for every 999 people, areas such as Ripley County in southeastern Indiana have one dentist for every 14,000 people.

Indiana clearly isn’t placing dental resources appropriately.

IU is determined to make a difference.

Karen Yoder, director of the division of community dentistry at the Indiana University School of Dentistry, is concerned about the amount of children who have dental health issues. According to Yoder, about half the children treated through the Seal Indiana program have untreated decaying teeth, and 15 percent have an “urgent need for dental care.”

Though dental health may not seem serious, lack of proper tooth care can be deadly, as one state discovered. A few years ago, a Maryland boy died when an abscessed tooth spread an infection to his brain. The tragic event made Maryland take a long, hard look at its statewide dental care. This year, Maryland received an A from the Pew Center, one of seven states across the country.

Indiana needs to do the same before tragedy strikes here. Oral hygiene is about much more than not having yellow teeth. Dental issues can lead to other health issues, and low-income children are at risk. The state needs to step up to the plate and take care of its children. Fluoride in water is a great step, but it isn’t enough.

Additionally, the government can’t do it alone. It’s nice to have a practice in Indianapolis or Carmel, but too many areas of the state are without dentists. More dental professionals should donate their time, even a couple weeks every year, to give dental care to those who desperately need it.

Seal Indiana is a great program, but more is needed. If every dentist gave a couple weeks of their time every year to those who need their care, think of all the good that could be done in this state.

­— hanns@indiana.edu