Healthcare coverage is a touchy subject for many Americans. So many different opinions on who is covered who should be covered and what should be covered. One thing that is often left out of that coverage is dental insurance. Many may find it to not be important but dental care is crucial for your health. Not only is it always important to have but it is especially important to our senior citizens. National Public Radio posted an article on October 27, 2016 focusing on how many of our senior citizens need dental care but they are not covered by there insurance. As we age our teeth age with us. Our mouths beginning a decaying process starting at our teeth. Often time’s seniors are at a disadvantage with their mouth health because they do …show more content…
According to an analysis of federal data by the American Dental Association, there is more than a 3rd of seniors with an income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level making $23,000 annually who had untreated tooth decay between the years 2011-2014. (Andrew) The issues we see is that the retired or disabled seniors, usually by the age of 65 years old, begin to have to pay for their dental care out of pocket. With a 3rd of the seniors being at poverty level, we begin to see them push their dental care to the side with not being able to or not wanting to pay for it out of pocket. Thankfully, there is nonprofit organization’s like the one based out of Minneapolis that targets under deserved seniors by having a Mobil traveling unit that goes to nursing homes and other facilities alike. But Judith Jones says it’s often like a Band-Aid service to them. It is the older senior citizens that are at a disadvantage because they didn’t have the dental care that my generation has had their entire life. We have regular visits twice a year and access to regular tooth brushing daily, fluoridation, things that will help improve your oral health in the future. Today, about 60 percent of seniors in nursing homes still have one tooth left. Can you imagine having only one
When you are practicing good dental hygiene, you will surely be in a much better oral health. The problem is that a lot of us neglect the proper taking care of our teeth and gum. This is when most oral diseases start and also the reason why the dental health category is a multi-million, if not a multi-billion, dollar industry.
Many people do not realize how important the dentist really is but the dentist is just as important as a medical doctor. Preventative dentistry is a crucial component in overall health. Preventative dentistry helps protect against things like gum disease and tooth decay. Gum disease and tooth decay can lead to oral cancer and in some circumstances heart disease.
For those that have bad habits with cigarettes, Tobacco Cessation Counseling is available. Cigarettes cause tooth loss, rotting, and surface stains; hygienist make sure to pass this information to the patient and help them to understand that quitting is the best option if they want to keep their teeth. As said before, a hygienist informs the patient on what foods to avoid. Nutritional Counseling is provided if a hygienist believes there is danger with a patients teeth such as diseases. (Dental Hygiene Clinic) Any foods with high acidity is something a dental hygienist would recommend avoiding. For example, apples, hard candies, popcorn, diet sodas, and salad dressing. Enamel is the hardest structure in the human body. It’s even harder than bones. When the enamel is exposed to acid, it wears down and erodes. This is how tooth erosion and decay happens. They will educate the patient with what foods to replace the bad ones with. Although, a dentist is who performs the restorations, a hygienist can still inform what will happen. Because of the fact that hygienists usually see patients before the dentist, they will give feedback to the dentist and recommend restorations in the mouth. They specialize in providing clinical and educational services (Sealy Dental Center) so they are very useful to dentists. When a patient has missing, chipped, or sharpened teeth, a restoration is done to replace the originals. Some examples
I am fortunate that my experiences have made me aware of these things so that when I do return to these communities as a dentist, I can not only better serve my patients as a provider, but I can also be a leading advocate for the change that is so desperately needed by the individuals in these communities. As I continue along my career path in dentistry, I intend to keep volunteering in dental clinics in underserved communities as well as participating in formal organizations such as Saving Smiles to more effectively address these issues as well as enhance my understanding of the dental field. Perhaps while I serve in these communities, I can inspire and support future health professionals that will continue to advance the incredible changes that our health fields are currently
Not only do they face the obvious challenges with their memory but also often have diminished physical ability and when one adds the possibility of xerostomia from medication it only makes the situation worse. Dental professionals should strive to do the best they can to help all people. Practicing dentistry should not be limited to the people who can take care of themselves. It is clear that people are living longer in the world today and with that comes mental and physical deficits. Oral health care does not become less valuable because a person suffers from life threatening diseases, it should continue to maintain its importance. Many of the problems our geriatric population face can be linked directly to lack of proper nutrition and loss of joy from being able to eat certain foods. Furthermore, oral diseases can cause the manifestation of systemic ailments that ultimately will lead to certain health decline. If people do not consider oral hygiene a priority then it is up to Dental professionals to convince them and encourage them to take responsibility. The general populous has neglected the geriatric population, but health care providers seem to be at the forefront by keeping them in focus. Dental health care providers have a duty to be apart of our older populations
Imagine having to spend half your fortune on correcting your teeth.”Tooth decay was a perennial national problem that meant a mouthful of silver for patients, and for dentists a pocketful of gold.” (Wallis, 17) If patients don’t take care of their teeth, many issues can start to appear later in their life. Some patients are not knowledgeable of the correct procedures toward keeping a healthy smile. In order to keep a healthy smile patients must be better informed about the knowledge to achieve that success and also maintain.
I can remember being a little boy sitting at the piano in church, listening to the preacher talk of how Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, which symbolizes the idea that we are here to serve. That message profoundly resonated with me throughout life. It was not until I began accompanying my grandmother to her multiple dental visits that I was able to see how I could put this calling of service into action. I saw firsthand the significant positive impact my grandmother’s dentist was able to make in her life, which encouraged me to want to learn about the field of dentistry. I then started researching dental health and learning of the importance of oral healthcare and how it affects the entire body. I then began to learn of how patient access to proper dental care was limited because of several factors such as, financial barriers, transportation, and dental fear, especially in the underserved minority communities. Given the shortage of black dentists, I realized I could make a positive difference by being an inspiration to those in the community, as well as serve in a professional career that would provide needed healthcare to the community. This is when I began to develop such a strong passion for
African American senior citizens face a health care crisis too. They have worked all of their lives to secure retirement, but their retirement has been threatened because of the rising cost of long-term medical care. Insurance companies have failed to provide affordable long-term care, protection that most senior citizens need. This lack of long term care and affordability has been a serious problem for the health care system. In some cities, the shortage of hospital beds is so serious that it is common for patients to stay in emergency rooms before they can be admitted to an inpatient room (Drake 109). More than one thousand hospital beds are occupied by people who could be better care for in nursing homes or through home health care (Drake 110). Of the disabled elderly 1.3 million reside in nursing homes (Drake 10). These patients are unable to perform two or more of the basic activities of daily living without assistance.
In the Dental Hygiene field, many challenges come about every day and during different situations. Every day there are new challenges and unusual situations that occur in the dental field, but one challenge that continues to come about and has been a big dispute over the years is the ability to provide beneficial information about oral health care for the underprivileged. For the individuals that are not fortunate enough to pay to have services done in the dental office, lack the knowledge of how important good oral health care is. They do not receive the one on one conversations explaining the significance of taking care of your teeth and gums that the patients who can afford to make appointments and receive essential services do. That
In 2009, dental insurance non-coverage was lowest among middle-income Canadians (48.7%). Also, this population reported experiencing the greatest barriers to dental care (34.1%), a 21.5% increased compared to 1996.5 “Canadians had the largest rise in out-of-pocket expenditures for dental care since 1978.”3 Increase of lack of dental coverage is evident across most groups of Canadians, for instance no insurance for ages 16-11 and seniors (60-79) increase to 21% and 53%
Since everyone wants good teeth to be able to eat and speak, dental insurance is as crucial as life insurance coverage plans as well as house insurance and car insurance. (Klapp par.1) While in 22 states they have no need for coverage and in six states only have emergency coverage and another 16 states does not cover preventative services on teeth. (Wallace par.1) insurance companies have jumped on having dental insurance due to them realizing that it is need by individuals who are not covered by their job or company. ( “Vital” par.6) when you are covered you have many benefits such as free procedures. To m...
Today, world’s population is aging at a very fast pace and United States is no exception to this demographic change. According to the U.S Census Bureau, senior citizens will be accounted for 21% of the American population in 2050 (Older Americans, 2012). Although living longer lives may not seem like a negative sign, living longer does not necessarily mean living healthier. Older adults of today are in need of long-term and health care services more than any generation before them (Older Americans, 2012). Because of the growing need for senior care, millions of families are facing critical decisions on how to provide care for their parents. In addition, declining birthrates may cause people to have less familial care and support as they age. To be able to provide the necessary care for senior citizens government funded long term care insurance program is needed.
Background: According to Canadian Health Measures Survey on latest oral health, approximately 62% of Canadian had private dental insurance. About 50% of the respondents from the lower income class do not have any dental insurance while 78% of the respondents with higher income section had private dental insurance coverage. Half of low-income individuals without dental insurance will pay for dental care expenses by themselves for them and their families. Additionally, 53% of respondents between the age of 60 and 79 were also not covered by any dental insurance. This indicates, that most Canadians will get private dental insurance when they are capable to afford it (i.e. high income). Whereas, half of low income and more than half seniors lack any dental insurance to receive dental care (1).
Dental hygiene is a dynamic and challenging career that offers team work, personal growth, and extraordinary benefits, and it is the perfect career for me. As a health care professional, the dental hygienist is an important member of the dental team providing patient care. Good qualities for a dental hygienist are compassion and enjoying talking to people which are two qualities that fit my personality. I love the thought of knowing I made a positive impact in a person's health. Becoming a dental hygienist professionally requires you to obtain an associate degree in dental hygiene. They affect the average American by educating them about dental care. A dentist helps people with their dental health, which can greatly impact a person’s day-to-day life.
Elderly have long been identified as a high risk group for dental disease and poor oral hygiene care. The major barriers to affect good oral hygiene care can include lack of available staff and lack of appropriate oral health knowledge