USA - A situation in decay
..................State of disgrace
Tooth decay among poor kids is just as prevalent in Pennsylvania as it is in Maryland, where a 12-year-old boy died Sunday after a cavity-driven infection spread to his brain, state health officials said.Health officials don't know how exactly many poor kids in the state are going without dental care. Pennsylvania, which is currently collecting data for a new report, last studied the issue in 1999. However, experts said they believe the problem is widespread and on a par with the rest of the country.
The situation
More than 1.1 million Pennsylvania children were living in poverty at the time of the 2000 Census. Another 157,000 had no health insurance.
Even those with medical assistance were not guaranteed regular access to a dentist, because few dentists in the state are willing to take them as patients. As of January, only about 5.5 percent (448) of an estimated 8,118 dentists in the state accepted patients on medical assistance, said Dr. Howard Polchinsky, the state's public health dentist.
Tooth decay among poor kids is just as prevalent in Pennsylvania as it is in Maryland, where a 12-year-old boy died Sunday after a cavity-driven infection spread to his brain, state health officials said.Health officials don't know how exactly many poor kids in the state are going without dental care. Pennsylvania, which is currently collecting data for a new report, last studied the issue in 1999. However, experts said they believe the problem is widespread and on a par with the rest of the country.
The situation
More than 1.1 million Pennsylvania children were living in poverty at the time of the 2000 Census. Another 157,000 had no health insurance.
Even those with medical assistance were not guaranteed regular access to a dentist, because few dentists in the state are willing to take them as patients. As of January, only about 5.5 percent (448) of an estimated 8,118 dentists in the state accepted patients on medical assistance, said Dr. Howard Polchinsky, the state's public health dentist.
posted by Bill at
10:17 AM
2 Comments:
HI Bill, wouldn't it be nice if Dentists who say they care sooo much for teeth would accross the board halve their fees, and each provide a free clinic one afternoon a week in their office for low income...they would still be richer than most of us...thats if they really cared...
but they don't. Their single enhine planes, and overseas jaunts and golf are far more importnat.
By
Middle Child, at 03 March, 2007
It would be nice if governments could set up free basic dental health clinics, delivering benefits to the people who pay the taxes, instead of squandering tax revenue on fighting wars overseas...
By
Unknown, at 15 March, 2007
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