Teeth!

It’s time to recognize that having teeth isn’t a luxury!! So many have lost teeth due to the food they eat, the possible effects of prescription drugs and Flouride in our water. And yes some are from neglect. But they have made it impossible for people to have affordable access to dental care. Barely covered under insurance. Nobody should be without teeth! Just unacceptable! Let’s make teeth Great Again!! Many who only collect SS can’t afford decent dental care or teeth for that matter! And we also need updated dental care! Let’s get that going too! No reason we aren’t using the latest up to date technologies!

311 Likes

Hello,
I would love for you to look at my proposal to encourage direct access dental hygienist to care for patients. There are some struggle with the current model but with collaboration and great minds coming together- we can help keep more teeth

Supporting Direct Access Mobile Dental Hygienists Policy

22 Likes

I believe dental and vision should be included as health care insurance period. I know of people that’s had to get teeth pulled because it was the only way they could afford to get it fixed. Some of our elderly on medical cards can’t get any dental work done because it may not cover it. Then there’s regular dental insurance that only covers so much and you still end up paying hundreds if not a thousand to get what you need done. I’ve needed a root canal for 5 months now and can’t get it done because in this economy we can’t save the $500 the dentist needs to do this even after insurance. Then vision…my disabled mother needed new glasses because her eyes got worse and she had to go take out a loan to get this done. She has a medical card. It doesn’t cover vision. Why is dental care so expensive? People without insurance that covers dental can’t even go because it’s outrageous! Medical is even outrageous.

76 Likes

Teeth replacement and root canal treatments are the main go-to and they’re completely unaffordable!

31 Likes

We need to be encouraging hydroxapetate (spelling might be off) instead of flouride too!

22 Likes

As a dental assistant this is very important. The number of people who just do not get treatment due to finances is very sad. A maximum pot of MAYBE $1500.00 a year on a dental plan is pathetic!

28 Likes

Im an autoimmune type 1 diabetic, and it affects my teeth so much. Because of the high cost of this disease, from needing two insulins to stay alive, gcm sensors, pumps, testing strips, glucose machine, ketone testing strips, doctor appointments, endocrinologist appointments, blood tests, etc, being able to afford dental work is IMPOSSIBLE.

I had a filling done the other day and it was $400.

(Just for reference, type 1 is different from type 2 and isnt because of diet. Your immune system attacks your pancreas until you are no longer able to produce any insulin which you need to live)

13 Likes

Can we add hearing aids to this? Hearing loss can lead to dementia and is isolating for seniors.

17 Likes

In Calgary, in Canada, they removed fluoride from their water. They are now putting it back after the need for IV antibiotics to prevent life threatening infections from tooth decay increased in children by 700%. Fluoride protects and strengthens teeth

2 Likes

All I ever hear of is how dental treatment is advancing! It seems however that because of that, the cost of treatment is also advancing and becoming unaffordable. Even filling basic cavities and exams have skyrocketed.

7 Likes

My husband has had dental work done in Mexico because Medicare doesn’t cover dental. Our secondary through his previous employer offers dental but only if we stayed in Washington State. That’s not right either.

6 Likes

There are safer options! I have filtered my drinking water for years and used fluoride free toothpaste for many many years and now have well water. Xylitol in toothpaste is just one option, which we use. Many essential oils also work, there are safer choices. And using fluoride toothpaste without having it in our drinking water is still much safer. Fluoride in drinking water is not the solution.

4 Likes

Also, if we were where we should be in advanced dental care none of this would matter.

3 Likes

The fact that I was in utter SHOCK that mine was 2,500 is sad.

4 Likes

There are emerging technologies out there to regrow teeth. I’ve heard they are being suppressed by the Companies selling implants. Columbia University developed a protocol to grow a tooth in nine weeks. Release that tech!

17 Likes

They need to combine medical, dental, and eye care in the healthcare system. And have 1 policy that covers it all. They are gouging us Americans with 3 different policies to stay healthy.

12 Likes

Absolutely this! I’m on state Medicaid, been assigned to one of the only two places that take my insurance and still cannot be seen. I’m missing half of my teeth and can’t chew food.

Even if I could get in, my insurance covers bare minimum and there is no “extra” money for anything in my house.

6 Likes

My first dental appointment was 18 years old. I took myself while pregnant with my first child. My mother had never taken me to a dentist. Being a life time mouth breather, late dental care, 2 children and putting myself on the back burner partly due to cost. I’m 44 and would want nothing more than to be able to smile. Can’t afford it. Maybe one day I can actually have a picture of me smiling and showing how happy I am.

8 Likes

I am personally affected by this please help

5 Likes

Teeth are a medical issue. I’ve known people who have died from tooth infections. It is serious and dangerous and should be covered by regular medical insurance.

11 Likes