General Discussion

fizzgig

(24,146 posts)

16. good dental health is so important to the rest of your health

Fri Jul 26, 2013, 11:40 AM

Jul 2013

i am very lucky to have as nice teeth as i do and i was able to skate by without seeing a dentist for the four or five years i wasn't insured, but i know not everyone is as lucky as i am. there is a sliding-scale dental office run by the county, but waits for appointments are long. there used to be a dental hygiene school at the community college and that's where we had cleanings as kids, but i'm not even sure if it exists anymore.

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Dental Care Should Be Part of Universal Healthcare [View all] MineralMan Jul 2013 OP

k&R think Jul 2013 #1

Realizing that dental health affects many other body functions and health Sheepshank Jul 2013 #2

Its not part of the UK's NHS / universal healthcare program dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #3

I hadn't realized that. adirondacker Jul 2013 #50

DUzy. nt awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #90

Austin Powers made great fun of the lack of cosmetic dental care in GB's public health maddiemom Jul 2013 #125

Those wire rims ones are a memory of the distant past. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #129

Yeah, those bandaids holding together a nose bridge came to be a tradition in films about kids in maddiemom Jul 2013 #131

That's some interesting information. I know our military provided the BCG's for a long time. I had adirondacker Jul 2013 #132

Yes it is. FunkyLeprechaun Jul 2013 #115

If you think that dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #116

It shows too. Apophis Jul 2013 #127

Yep. Optical too. Scuba Jul 2013 #4

That's also a good idea. MineralMan Jul 2013 #7

I am vision impaired Coyote_Bandit Jul 2013 #121

That's not covered by the UK's NHS either. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #9

free for under 16, over 60 and in fulltime education and receiving benefits Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2013 #94

Something like that. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #113

And hearing aides itsrobert Jul 2013 #37

Absolutely. Thanks! Scuba Jul 2013 #39

You mean they are not?... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #91

I absolutely CANNOT function without my glasses! Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #54

On this we agree fully. Dental health is a major component of health in general Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #5

Did you know? Bunnahabhain Jul 2013 #6

Yes. It should be, though. MineralMan Jul 2013 #8

I heard one time that was the problem in Britain snooper2 Jul 2013 #10

It not quite like that here in the UK. dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #23

Ya mean like this Englishman wore? Manifestor_of_Light Jul 2013 #52

poor dental health can kill. It should be part of a national health care rurallib Jul 2013 #11

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #31

It should be, but we will all be dead and gone before dental is covered. Hoyt Jul 2013 #12

The more you expect from the system from its outset, if ever , dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #18

Dental care is preventive care. Brickbat Jul 2013 #13

You'd think good lawyers and lawmakers could make that argument fairly easily! nt adirondacker Jul 2013 #133

It makes total sense, even from a purely private medical-ins perspective phantom power Jul 2013 #14

It should be body care! hamsterjill Jul 2013 #15

good dental health is so important to the rest of your health fizzgig Jul 2013 #16

it is Skittles Jul 2013 #64

It should include vision care as well. BlueToTheBone Jul 2013 #17

Amen to that!! Peacetrain Jul 2013 #19

A bad tooth killed my dad skydive forever Jul 2013 #44

Many people die from tooth related ailments skydive Peacetrain Jul 2013 #48

I had my teeth cleaned and checked two days ago. Got a good check up, by the way. Grammy23 Jul 2013 #80

Wow Peacetrain Jul 2013 #86

What is it you can find out from an eye exam? flamingdem Jul 2013 #126

This was told to me.. Peacetrain Jul 2013 #135

100% correct! And dental insurance with a cap of $1000 is ridiculous. mountain grammy Jul 2013 #20

I considered at one time to do the extraction EC Jul 2013 #21

I'm not sure that purely cosmetic dental care should be included. MineralMan Jul 2013 #22

I agree about "purely cosmetic," but... Orrex Jul 2013 #28

My teeth were all lost...from the inside, out...brushing/flossing irrelevant DebJ Jul 2013 #59

Medicine can do it, too... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #93

Not only dental care, but vision and hearing too. RC Jul 2013 #24

Yes. I agree. MineralMan Jul 2013 #25

Medical devices in general are a huge contributer to cost increases Recursion Jul 2013 #30

Not to mention mental heath.... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #35

When I looked into hearing aids the cheapest ones quoted were $4,000 by the audiologist airplaneman Jul 2013 #67

The audiologist are pushing the high profit digital hearing aids. RC Jul 2013 #69

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #26

you are correct... Javaman Jul 2013 #27

My one dental implant cost $6,000 airplaneman Jul 2013 #68

I know, it's ridiculous. Javaman Jul 2013 #77

Thanks for sharing. airplaneman Jul 2013 #85

You should check in your area for a dental school. Javaman Jul 2013 #97

Why does nobody go bankrupt from dental bills? Recursion Jul 2013 #29

Do they all have dentures? Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #34

No, but I don't have a dental plan, and seeing my dentist is affordable Recursion Jul 2013 #36

Wonder if he'll take a chicken. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #38

Due to genetics, I lost all my teeth and needed full dentures by the age of 50. DebJ Jul 2013 #62

While dental care has changed a lot in fifty years, SheilaT Jul 2013 #107

As callous as this is going to sound, SheilaT Jul 2013 #105

Before Ahnold came along MediCal in California covered CLEANINGS... Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #32

I agree...knr...glad your wife is feeling better...nt joeybee12 Jul 2013 #33

Once I had free dental.. AsahinaKimi Jul 2013 #40

No brainer. I hope it happens down the line like mental health issues that used to be Cleita Jul 2013 #41

Right on! JaneyVee Jul 2013 #42

I AGREE gussmith Jul 2013 #43

K & R damn straight! 99th_Monkey Jul 2013 #45

100% with you. avaistheone1 Jul 2013 #46

The distinction between "medical" and "dental" is archaic, and nonsensical. David__77 Jul 2013 #47

The system is wealth not health. GeorgeGist Jul 2013 #49

K&R MotherPetrie Jul 2013 #51

I agree! Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2013 #53

Interesting point, and SheilaT Jul 2013 #108

Not that it's a terrific option, but extractions can be done at most hospitals REP Jul 2013 #55

Are extractions at hospitals covered by Medicare? I don't think so. totodeinhere Jul 2013 #61

If insurance covers outpatient procedures, then it might be covered REP Jul 2013 #70

At least some hospitals don't doo SheilaT Jul 2013 #109

What a timely post! watoos Jul 2013 #56

And a lot of stand alone private dental insurance plans are ripoffs. totodeinhere Jul 2013 #60

I could not agree more. It's a scandal that poor people in this country are forced to suffer with totodeinhere Jul 2013 #57

K & R SunSeeker Jul 2013 #58

We don't often agree but, hear, hear! Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #63

Thanks! An important post locks Jul 2013 #65

The Socialist Left Party in Norway had a pretty good slogan: War Horse Jul 2013 #66

Dental cover is not provided under Swedens healthcare system dipsydoodle Jul 2013 #74

You are right War Horse Jul 2013 #75

I agree vankuria Jul 2013 #71

Dental, Eyes and Hearing. It's quality of life and health. K&R! KoKo Jul 2013 #72

As things change WRT healthcare, those are things we MineralMan Jul 2013 #73

It's so basic...and so out of the reach of so many... KoKo Jul 2013 #99

Look around for a free clinic michigandem58 Jul 2013 #76

Tough to do in an emergency. MineralMan Jul 2013 #79

Agreed michigandem58 Jul 2013 #123

I agree. Skidmore Jul 2013 #78

I agree but not likely to happen. roamer65 Jul 2013 #81

I've been wondering . . . Utopian Leftist Jul 2013 #82

I agree. alarimer Jul 2013 #83

As a dentist and former dental educator, PCIntern Jul 2013 #84

Agreed! On both points... jazzimov Jul 2013 #87

Dental AND vision.. Just think of all the people who need glasses SoCalDem Jul 2013 #88

+1 nt. livingwagenow Jul 2013 #96

Dental care is ridiculously expensive... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #89

dental and vision Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2013 #92

rec for any mention of pro-single payer, plus dental = even better. nt livingwagenow Jul 2013 #95

It is malaise Jul 2013 #98

Absolutely agree. We should be making life better for ourselves and our children. randome Jul 2013 #100

Little toe care is covered, but teeth aren't. gulliver Jul 2013 #101

Dental Insurance here in U.S. is really just small discounted dental care .. not insurance really. YOHABLO Jul 2013 #102

As I sit here tonight in total agony.......... mrmpa Jul 2013 #103

i am sorry u are in pain. hope u find relief soon Liberal_in_LA Jul 2013 #112

Do you have a dental school near you? If so, you might inquire about being seen there. mnhtnbb Jul 2013 #118

there is a dental school near by. I used it when........ mrmpa Jul 2013 #130

Why don't you try contacting Wishadoo? Find out what the lower payment schedule mnhtnbb Jul 2013 #134

They really should work on the vaccine quakerboy Jul 2013 #104

Dental care should be included in Medicare as well. Lugnut Jul 2013 #106

Dental isn't covered by Medicare in Australia... Violet_Crumble Jul 2013 #110

I think perhaps that the essential reason dental SheilaT Jul 2013 #111

The hypocrisy of prolife politicians polynomial Jul 2013 #114

Tell me about it. I am having a tooth extracted on Monday mnhtnbb Jul 2013 #117

Agreed - TBF Jul 2013 #119

Also - TBF Jul 2013 #120

Why teeth and eyes (beyond significant disease) are not covered by insurance AllyCat Jul 2013 #122

I so agree, and always have! When lucky enough to have employee health insurance maddiemom Jul 2013 #124

Agreed. Apophis Jul 2013 #128