Janesville; Wisconsin is fluoridated: NYSCOF
Grant money provides care to dental patients in need(Published Saturday, November 18, 2006
By Shelly Birkelo/Gazette StaffJANESVILLE
Nancy Wells faithfully went for 6-month dental checkups until she lost her job with insurance. Three years ago, the 45-year-old Janesville woman was laid off from her job and lost her dental coverage. Now, she works two part-time jobs with no medical insurance. She didn't see a dentist until Wednesday, when HealthNet's new preventive dental care program provided a complete exam, cleaning and X-ray. "I'm so excited," she said as she waited in the lobby of TriMark Dental Clinic on Kennedy Road. After getting Wells' health history, Dr. Mark Karrels asked Wells if she had any concerns or pain. "I have a loose tooth that moves around, and I've been grinding my teeth," Wells told him. When her X-rays were displayed on a TV screen, Karrels explained that built-up tartar on Wells' teeth was causing gum disease, which was melting away bone. She also had the start of an infection. "What I'm finding doesn't look bad. But this may be a cavity on the lower left,'' he said, pointing to the white area on the screen. HealthNet's preventive dental care services are being paid through a $25,000 grant the nonprofit organization acquired in June from Delta Dental of Wisconsin. "They are the reason we are able to offer this program that started July 1," said Traci Rogers, executive director of HealthNet.HealthNet has to annually apply for the Delta Dental grant but also is looking into other dental funding sources, Rogers said. To date, 30 HealthNet patients have been able to participate in the program, which involves five Janesville dental clinics. More dental clinics are needed, Roger said.HealthNet can have an annual maximum of 156 patients in the preventive program that costs an average of $160 per patient. Although there is no waiting list for HealthNet's preventive dental care program, there is a waiting list for restorative dental care that limits patients to one filling and one extraction. "We have a great need for this service now and have 26 individuals on this waiting list," Rogers said. That's why the preventive care program is so important, she added. "According to Volunteers in Health Care, nearly one-third of adults who are low-income and older than 30 have lost at least one tooth because of infection," Rogers explained. Restorative care, provided by 11 local dental clinics, costs $170 compared to $160 for the preventive care. "It (preventive care) is cheaper and will decrease the cost for HealthNet, but most of all will save our patients' teeth, which would decrease the need for emergency care to treat swelling, infection and pain," Rogers said. Karrels, a partner at TriMark Dental Clinic and a HealthNet board member, agreed: "Access to dental care is a major initiative this year with the American Dental Association.Helping HealthNet provide this new service is the right thing to do."There's too many people who don't have dental care, plus it's cheaper on the preventive end than later to restore,'' he said.
By Shelly Birkelo/Gazette StaffJANESVILLE
Nancy Wells faithfully went for 6-month dental checkups until she lost her job with insurance. Three years ago, the 45-year-old Janesville woman was laid off from her job and lost her dental coverage. Now, she works two part-time jobs with no medical insurance. She didn't see a dentist until Wednesday, when HealthNet's new preventive dental care program provided a complete exam, cleaning and X-ray. "I'm so excited," she said as she waited in the lobby of TriMark Dental Clinic on Kennedy Road. After getting Wells' health history, Dr. Mark Karrels asked Wells if she had any concerns or pain. "I have a loose tooth that moves around, and I've been grinding my teeth," Wells told him. When her X-rays were displayed on a TV screen, Karrels explained that built-up tartar on Wells' teeth was causing gum disease, which was melting away bone. She also had the start of an infection. "What I'm finding doesn't look bad. But this may be a cavity on the lower left,'' he said, pointing to the white area on the screen. HealthNet's preventive dental care services are being paid through a $25,000 grant the nonprofit organization acquired in June from Delta Dental of Wisconsin. "They are the reason we are able to offer this program that started July 1," said Traci Rogers, executive director of HealthNet.HealthNet has to annually apply for the Delta Dental grant but also is looking into other dental funding sources, Rogers said. To date, 30 HealthNet patients have been able to participate in the program, which involves five Janesville dental clinics. More dental clinics are needed, Roger said.HealthNet can have an annual maximum of 156 patients in the preventive program that costs an average of $160 per patient. Although there is no waiting list for HealthNet's preventive dental care program, there is a waiting list for restorative dental care that limits patients to one filling and one extraction. "We have a great need for this service now and have 26 individuals on this waiting list," Rogers said. That's why the preventive care program is so important, she added. "According to Volunteers in Health Care, nearly one-third of adults who are low-income and older than 30 have lost at least one tooth because of infection," Rogers explained. Restorative care, provided by 11 local dental clinics, costs $170 compared to $160 for the preventive care. "It (preventive care) is cheaper and will decrease the cost for HealthNet, but most of all will save our patients' teeth, which would decrease the need for emergency care to treat swelling, infection and pain," Rogers said. Karrels, a partner at TriMark Dental Clinic and a HealthNet board member, agreed: "Access to dental care is a major initiative this year with the American Dental Association.Helping HealthNet provide this new service is the right thing to do."There's too many people who don't have dental care, plus it's cheaper on the preventive end than later to restore,'' he said.
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