Disturbing
article in the NY Times today about pervasive lack of dental care in the US. I know the problem is particularly acute in rural areas like my state - Maine - where few people get any care at all, but the problem seems to be spreading into the 'middle class' as employers drop all dental coverage. Soon only the wealthy in this country can afford a good smile.
"In a nation where a person's smile is considered a sign of general well-being and an important factor in landing a job, dental care is becoming ever more unequal, policy specialists say. In 2000, the surgeon general issued a report describing the silent epidemic of dental and oral diseases affecting mainly the poor, but some specialists, including those working at community clinics, say the problem is becoming worse.
Each year, Americans spend about $70 billion on dental services, ranging from basic checkups to sophisticated dental implants and new cosmetic whitening treatments. But for all that spending, what has evolved is a double standard of care, with the haves getting movie star smiles and the have-nots more likely to be living with mouths full of bad or missing teeth.
Only about half of the country has any form of dental insurance, by some estimates. Most employers do not offer the benefit, and dental coverage is often one of the first things companies cut to reduce costs. In 2003, 39 percent of employers offered dental benefits, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, compared with 66 percent that offered health insurance. "