MINNESOTA VOLUNTEER DENTISTS SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS FOR FREE DENTAL CARE FOR NEEDY CHILDREN IN FEBRUARY
(Minneapolis, MN) - - Minnesota dentists will provide free dental care to less fortunate children on Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6 at nearly 200 locations statewide. The Minnesota Dental Association is sponsoring this unique outreach effort, called Give Kids a Smile, for the 8th consecutive year. Appointments are being scheduled now.
“We know that government funded programs for families have been dramatically cut. Volunteer dentists are trying to close the gap for the low income children who are not getting the dental care they need and deserve,” said Dr. Robert Templeton, president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “With no eligibility requirements and no insurance paperwork for patients, each volunteer dentist treats these children straight from the heart. We are very proud of this.”
This year marks the 8th consecutive year the Minnesota Dental Association has sponsored Give Kids a Smile and more than 2,500 volunteer dentists and dental professionals will provide the care. Since its inception, the program has served 32,000 young children and the donated services top $10 million dollars in value.
Patients seeking appointments should be under the age of 18 and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. People interested in scheduling an appointment can call United Way 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or the statewide toll-free number 1-800-543-7709 or see a list of clinics providing care at www.mndental.org. Information on specific services that will be provided will be outlined when an appointment is scheduled.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81% of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. Learn more at: www.mndental.org.
MINNESOTA DENTISTS WARN HALLOWEEN SHOPPERS: SOUR CANDIES MAY TRICK, NOT TREAT TEETH
(Minneapolis, MN) - When making Halloween candy purchases, the Minnesota Dental Association warns that popular “sour candy” can trick teeth by causing permanent erosion of the dental enamel on the teeth. The Minnesota Dental Association encourages adults to consider "tooth healthy treats" that will both put and keep a smile on children's faces.
“As dentists, we see an alarming number of children with permanent erosion of the dental enamel on their teeth,” says Dr. Bruce Templeton, a practicing dentist in Minneapolis who is also president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “We know that the increasingly popular sour candies are a factor, so we invite you to consider other alternatives for Halloween treats.”
Specifically, the hard and gummy candies which promise an “extreme” sour or candies which promote a sweet and sour experience are the candies to avoid. Acid weakens the protective tooth enamel. Without it, teeth are prone to tooth decay. The teeth can also become more sensitive to consuming hot, cold or sweet food and drinks.
GOOD TREATS TO GIVE
There are many tooth-friendly treats, not the least of which are non-food treats. Healthier alternatives for Halloween include:
- Money: nickels, dimes, quarters
- Small bags of chips, peanuts or pretzels
- Sugarless gum
- Treats that are eaten quickly and done with, like small candy bars (Not treats that take long to eat and that may linger on teeth long afterward, like caramels)
- Stickers, rings, hair bows.
- Toothbrushes.
The Minnesota Dental Association and its members are taking a national lead in educating parents and children with a campaign called The Power of Sour on Your Teeth.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81% of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. Learn more at: www.mndental.org, or find us on Facebook.
Governor slashes oral health care through unallotment
Pawlenty cuts funding to clinics and dentists who treat poorest, most compromised patients
Minneapolis, Minn. - The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) expressed profound disappointment in Governor Pawlenty’s cuts to oral health care services that treat Minnesota’s most vulnerable populations. The governor cut $6.2 million to the Critical Access Dental Provider Program, which funds clinics that treat low-income and rural patients, as well as those with special needs.
“Poor people don’t have lobbyists,” noted Dr. John Flor, founder of Main Street Dental M.A. in Blooming Prairie. “We see 15,000 medical assistance patients per year, and some come from up to 200 miles away to get access to our care. But we can’t accept new patients without adequate funding. While our clinic will survive these cuts, others may not.”
While Pawlenty’s unallotment for the Critical Access Dental Provider payments will not take place until April 2010, many clinics will be forced to reexamine the types of patients they serve in the future. These cuts may force some clinics to close and force patients to visit hospital emergency rooms for treatment of their oral pain rather than the more cost effective use of dental offices. Statewide, there are currently more than 20,000 emergency room visits for dental care each year.
The MDA looks forward to working with the legislature to restore the funding for oral health care during the 2010 legislative session.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81 percent of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.
May 26, 2009
Dentists’ concerns shape new dental position, but more needs to be done
By Dr. Lee Jess
Many communities are facing problems with access to dental care; perhaps they are a low-income community that struggles with the ability to pay for care or a rural community that may have too few dentists in the area. To ensure every Minnesotan has access, the legislature sought a new approach to expanding access while maintaining health care quality.
In the next few years, a new position, called the dental therapist, will be added to your local dental team. While we were initially concerned about the safety of the scope of practice for this new worker, the Minnesota Dental Association was at the table to ensure that important patient protections were established. These important patient protections, negotiated by the Minnesota Dental Association, ensure safe, high quality dental care for Minnesota’s low-income and underserved populations. Most importantly, this position may help improve access for Minnesotans.
This new position will provide oral healthcare to Minnesota’s low-income and underserved populations. The dental therapist will be allowed to perform basic restorative procedures with the on-site supervision of a dentist. With additional training, a dental therapist can qualify as an advanced dental therapist and perform these procedures outside of the dental office with the permission of the supervising dentist. To ensure patient safety, these new dental team members will have a strong supervisory relationship with a dentist who can step in if a procedure becomes too complex.
The dental therapist and advanced dental therapist positions are only part of the solution to Minnesota’s access problem. Many Minnesotans suffer from ailments that go beyond the scope of what a dental therapist or advanced dental therapist will be trained to do.
Minnesota’s dental community has developed and will continue to lead many successful programs to provide dental care to low-income and underserved individuals, from the Critical Access Dental Provider program, to the Donated Dental Services program, to the Give Kids a Smile program. In addition, Minnesota dentists will continue to help establish dental care options community by community throughout the state, seek financial assistance for graduating dentists who choose to practice in underserved areas, advocate for adequate funding for public dental programs, and seek to streamline the administration of public dental programs.
Most importantly, the MDA will work to ensure that dental therapists are serving those most in need and are providing safe, quality dental care to rural and low-income populations with the best training possible. Ultimately, Minnesota must find the political will to fund a dental health system in which the people in greatest need, and who also have the most complex oral health needs, can get care from fully trained dentists.
Dr. Lee Jess is president of the Minnesota Dental Association. He practices in Grand Rapids, Minn.
Minnesota dentists effect key changes to dental therapist legislation
New positions meet dentists’ requirements for safe dental care
Minneapolis, Minn. - The Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) successfully effected changes to key elements of legislation that now ensures patient safety with the creation of mid-level dental therapist and advanced dental therapist positions. These positions meet the principles long adhered to by the Minnesota Dental Association for appropriate scope of practice and supervision requirements. The dental therapist and advanced dental therapist will provide oral care to Minnesota’s low-income and underserved populations.
“The MDA and its member dentists have worked hard over the past few months to ensure that principles for appropriate education, supervision, and scope of practice were maintained. Minnesota dentists have worked with other dental professionals to create a position that will ensure patient safety and create an integrated member of the dental team,” said Lee Jess, president of the Minnesota Dental Association. “We are pleased that our concerns were heard and that this new position is a workable program to reach those in need while ensuring high quality care.”
A dental therapist will be allowed to perform basic preventive and restorative procedures with the on-site supervision of a dentist. With additional training, a dental therapist can qualify as an advanced dental therapist and perform additional procedures with the permission of the supervising dentist. An advanced dental therapist may also assess a patient’s condition, although a licensed dentist must authorize a treatment plan.
“Minnesota’s dental community has developed and will continue to lead many successful programs to expand access,” explained Jess. “Moving forward, the MDA will work to ensure that dental therapists are serving those most in need and are providing safe, quality dental care to underserved communities.”
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81 percent of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. You can learn more at www.mndental.org.
January 29, 2009
MINNESOTA DENTAL ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT OF CONCERN
REGARDING GOVERNOR PAWLENTY’S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS
The following statement from Minnesota Dental Association President Dr. Lee Jess is in response to the proposed budget cuts announced by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Dr. Jess practices dentistry in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
“Governor Pawlenty’s proposed budget cuts will further restrict access to oral health care at a time families need it the most. And the proposed cuts will have the greatest impact on those whose oral health is most fragile.”
KEY FACTS: How the Governor’s proposed budget impacts oral health care
1) Under the Governor’s proposed budget cuts, dental care for needy adults is completely eliminated. Care for children remains only because it is required by the federal government.
2) The proposed cuts eliminate a widely acclaimed program to encourage dentists to provide critical care to needy children and adults. Known as the Critical Access Provider Payment Program, this successful initiative has allowed dentists to treat even more patients on public assistance.
3) The proposed cuts eliminate the healthcare access fund but keep the tax on dentists and others in place, diverting those funds to the general fund.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 81% of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. Learn more at: www.mndental.org
January 6, 2009
MINNESOTA DENTISTS ANNOUNCE PLANS TO PROVIDE FREE DENTAL CARE TO NEEDY CHILDREN IN MINNESOTA
GIVE KIDS A SMILE PROGRAM
FEBRUARY 6-7, 2009
(Minneapolis, MN) - - Volunteer dentists are teaming up with dental professionals throughout Minnesota to provide their services for free to children whose families could otherwise not afford the care. The Minnesota Dental Association is sponsoring this unique outreach effort, called Give Kids a Smile, because dentists are committed to providing all children with dental care and improving access to care throughout Minnesota.
The free care will be provided on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7, 2009 when thousands of dentists and other volunteers across the state open their offices and clinics to provide completely free dental care to children whose families cannot otherwise afford the care.
People interested in scheduling an appointment for their child may do so starting today by calling United Way 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or the statewide toll-free number 1-800-543-7709. Information on specific services that will be provided will be outlined when an appointment is scheduled.
This year marks the 7th consecutive year the Minnesota Dental Association is sponsoring Give Kids a Smile. The statewide effort has grown into one of the largest efforts to provide free dental care to children in need.
“Dentists are here to help children who need care. We spend these two days every year opening our offices without any charge to the public as one way of answering that call", said Dr. Lee Jess, president of the Minnesota Dental Association.
Patients seeking appointments should be under the age of 18 and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
The Minnesota Dental Association is the voice of dentistry in Minnesota, representing 83% of practicing dentists. It is committed to the highest standards of oral health and access to care for all Minnesotans. Learn more at: www.mndental.org