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In reply to the discussion: Dental Care Should Be Part of Universal Healthcare [View all]Grammy23
(5,815 posts)80. I had my teeth cleaned and checked two days ago. Got a good check up, by the way.
As my dentist was cleaning and checking my mouth, he was informing me about the importance of taking care of gum issues and the connection to other health issues that can come from neglected teeth and gums. He indicated that there are now studies that confirm that our overall health can be negatively impacted from dental issues that go un-addressed.
A number of years ago when I was in grad school, I was working on a research project at large medical center ER. We were interviewing patients to try to find out why they were using the ER, among other things. I'll never forget the woman who came in one Saturday night who was almost out of her mind with pain. Turned out she had an abscessed tooth and you could see the swelling in her jaw. Even a non-medical person could see her problem!
As it turned out, like others on this thread have pointed out, they really couldn't do much for her. Even if someone was there who was qualified to extract the tooth, the infection was too bad to do it at that time. She needed antibiotics for a while before they could even think about taking out that tooth. She was discharged with TYLENOL and told to try to see a dentist the following Monday. I knew how hard it would be for her find anyone who would see her with NO MONEY & NO INSURANCE. It haunted me for days thinking about how she must have suffered. I never found out what happened to her. But there were many, many others like her.
Dental care should be part of our health care coverage. Anybody know why it is not included? And what's up with not providing glasses when you need them? It's a crazy system we have. No logic at all. Sigh......
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Austin Powers made great fun of the lack of cosmetic dental care in GB's public health
maddiemom
Jul 2013
#125
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
free for under 16, over 60 and in fulltime education and receiving benefits
Rosa Luxemburg
Jul 2013
#94
On this we agree fully. Dental health is a major component of health in general
Bluenorthwest
Jul 2013
#5
You'd think good lawyers and lawmakers could make that argument fairly easily! nt
adirondacker
Jul 2013
#133
I had my teeth cleaned and checked two days ago. Got a good check up, by the way.
Grammy23
Jul 2013
#80
When I looked into hearing aids the cheapest ones quoted were $4,000 by the audiologist
airplaneman
Jul 2013
#67
No brainer. I hope it happens down the line like mental health issues that used to be
Cleita
Jul 2013
#41
I could not agree more. It's a scandal that poor people in this country are forced to suffer with
totodeinhere
Jul 2013
#57
Absolutely agree. We should be making life better for ourselves and our children.
randome
Jul 2013
#100
Dental Insurance here in U.S. is really just small discounted dental care .. not insurance really.
YOHABLO
Jul 2013
#102
Do you have a dental school near you? If so, you might inquire about being seen there.
mnhtnbb
Jul 2013
#118
Why don't you try contacting Wishadoo? Find out what the lower payment schedule
mnhtnbb
Jul 2013
#134
I so agree, and always have! When lucky enough to have employee health insurance
maddiemom
Jul 2013
#124