Smile Care Dental Grievances

Oral health has a direct impact on the general health, hence, it is important that all Canadians have adequate access to dental care services. Over the years successive Governments have reduced financial support to programs delivering dental care to most vulnerable populations. As a result, many low income families and other vulnerable groups have been unable to access dental care. There is further escalation in the disparities in oral health care among Canadians, as the number of Canadians losing dental care benefits continues to increase. Also, higher oral health care costs can be expected in the near future due to shortage of health care professionals.

In elementary school, one of my favorite days in grade school would be when my mom came in for her oral hygiene lessons. Even though my mom could have easily demonstrated proper techniques on how to brush and floss teeth with a dental model for my classes, she knew how excited I would always get when she called on me to personally demonstrate. I would brush in confidence those tooth surfaces, at a 45 degree angle and with small circular strokes. Promptly in the lesson, I would put the toothbrush vertically for those inside surfaces of my front teeth. My mom would end the brushing technique with a friendly reminder to brush for a full two minutes, twice a day. She also told the kids to think of triangles and to floss along the mesial and distal surfaces of their teeth, rather than straight down and cutting their gums. With every upcoming yearly demonstration, I honed that routine of mine, ensuring to my classmates the best way to keep the plague out. Even to this day, I have still got my middle school sketchbook in my desk drawer, where I had illustrated the cover as, “Dr. Pham, DDS”. Starting in my high school summer, I had my first shot to assist my parents with what I have always known to be as, “The Office.” In the day-to-day, I strove to follow my dad’s office procedures. Imagine, my young, impressionable self holding onto the large suction and water syringe as a patient’s wisdom were extracted; gums cut, that red blood flowing throughout the procedure.

Based upon our review, you filed a grievance because you are being billed for services you did not believe you had by Nyack Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital.

While in the chair I mentioned to the doctor I required a prescription for an abscess. Dr. “I didn't give you one” “No” was my reply. The assistant called it in. Received my “Explanation of Benefits” and there was a charge of $65. I telephoned the practice and they stated that the charge was for calling the prescription into the pharmacy. For Calling The Prescription Into The Pharmacy. What Audacity!

Arriving at the Fresno Convention Center a day ahead of schedule, I was shocked to see people preparing to wait in line overnight, mimicking the pre-Black Friday shoppers frenzy. However instead of shopping for fashionable apparel or discounted electronics, these people were seeking affordable dental care. The people were so desperate that they traveled from all parts of California, sacrificing a few days of warmth, sleep, or work for the prospect of relief. After having spent the previous 3 months fundraising money to attend the California Dental Association Cares Fresno event in order to learn more about dental care in the underserved community, I immediately knew that this event would expose a side of dental health care that I have never

The provision of dental treatment in Australia is a topic that ignites a wide range of opinions and emotions among the various stakeholders involved. Much of dentistry in Australia is provided in the private setting, some estimates suggesting 83%1. Australians fund up to 60% of dental care via out of pocket payments1,2. Only a relatively small amount of dental care is provided in the public sector to patients who are often disadvantaged in regards to their oral health1. It is estimated that a large amount of the population is unable to access dental care due to finances; however the capacity of the public sector to provide dental care is limited. With limited funding and resources, the public sector is unable to provide dental care for all Australians and a large proportion of people are on long wait lists, some estimates of 650,0002.

Hundreds of years ago, the dental profession and the medical profession was perceived as two separate entities, however, this bifurcated health system has created an epidemic in oral disease with our aging population (Nagro, 2016). Dentistry should be more closely integrated with medicine and the health care system, however, organized dentistry has fought to stay a monopoly. They have protested regarding dental personnel being independent, even in the advancement of serving more rural areas, just as they repelled being part of Medicare. Finally, there are a few states that have alternative choices for a dental hygienist to travel to people who can’t get to a traditional dental office. Some of these states include Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon,

In the medical field, there is many ideas of a mid level provider, this is just one, the mid level dental provider. A midlevel dental provider or therapist is commonly unheard of but there is a need for them, they do need dental education, and not everywhere has them though. There is a lot that they can do for the community and also the dentist. Mid level dental providers have a lot in common with a physician, but also very many differences. All of these will be discussed as we move on.

Regardless of your political stance, dental care is a service that all people should have access to, privately, or publicly. In the United States alone, millions of Native Americans on reservations are stifled from receiving the much needed dental care they require, the consequences are harmful to their health and prosperity.

Oral health care is an integral part of the US healthcare system. In 2012, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced “The Comprehensive Dental Reform Act”, which aimed on expanding dental coverage, accessible oral health care centers, increase in dental workforce, enhanced dental education and encourage dental research. (Congress.gov). The ACA, aim to curb the national health spending, by facilitating the affordability to quality care through private and public health insurance. The purpose of this bill is to cut the healthcare costs and to reverse the “silent epidemic” of dental health status (surgeon gen). This dental bill with an integrated approach towards the preventive and comprehensive oral healthcare is estimated to provide coverage to almost 17.7 million adults. (ADA

accept Medicaid and this might result in higher utilization in particular wards over others. We did not have information about parental marital status and other private insurance, which could be used for dental services and not reflect in Medicaid billing data. Also, there could be a potential bias due to delayed reporting of the data which might not be included in the dataset when we received it. Also, Centre for Medicaid Services (CMS) uses the information from these datasets and presents it by financial year whereas this analysis was done by calendar year, which may not match with the generally available information. Also, the composition of Medicaid population might not be a true representation of over-all population. People having private dental insurance might have a different utilization pattern for assigned dental home and preventive dental services. We also feel that the information of ward might not be an accurate representation of utilization since people may seek services from a provider in different wards than the one in which they reside. Having data about unique providers, along with unique patient might make a robust database to get more accurate information. Last but not the least, we restricted our definition preventive dental services to a combination of examination and fluoride application, which is not the same as followed by

In the United States, during the formation of health care, the profession fostered a splint in dental and medical care. Two separate industries have grown with different regulatory systems, schooling, insurances and overall practices. Yet it is difficult to comprehend how this separation is allowed to continue and how the patient is best served by two detached providers. Though, I was pleased to learn that the expansion of Medicaid, under Affordable Care Act meant that more underserved people would have access to dental insurance, I was disappointed that the health reform overall did not include dental coverage to all. And despite this gain in dental care, the Medicaid dental coverage is optional and the expansion was left at the discretion

Therefore, booking a patient in a private dental office happens sooner. Thus, with more prompt service the dental office provides much better quality of care. Dr. Drexler shares, “It is inconvenient to have the poor quality technology. A number of patients lose wages and time from work to see the dentist. In fact, a patient is willing to pay the higher fee rate for same day service” (Wexler). With this in mind, the distinction is remarkable; the author finds Universal Care most appealing. All in all, the public deserves the same level of care, no matter their circumstances. In either case, Dr. Wexler agrees “the HCO is high-quality healthcare but in society, we are at the bottom of effectiveness in providing effective healthcare to all”

Dental care coverage is much less dominant than medical care coverage in the United States. When compared between medical and dental coverage of adults over the age of 21, about 15 percent have no form of medical care coverage, but over 45 percent have no form of dental care coverage (Brown & Manski, 2004; Buchmueller, Miller, & Vujicic, 2014). Moreover, Americans over 65 continue to be the age group with

From a very early age, I had a natural affinity for teeth. I wanted to know how they form, and differ in other individuals. As a toddler, I would grab hold of the staff’s teeth at my local daycare and attempt my own version of a dental inspection. It came quite apparent to my mother that either I had a serious fetish or I was finding a passion for a future profession. Even though my mother loved my curious personality, she wanted me to understand that there are boundaries that I must adhere too. Over time, I stopped playing with stranger’s mouths and started using my hands for more important duties. On Saturdays, after soccer practice, my father would drive us to food banks to volunteer our time. During my time as a volunteer, I did such activities such as feeding the homeless, packing boxes of food for families in need, and assisting the building of homes with habitat humanity. Thankfully, I could continue my development as a community leader throughout college and adulthood.