By Dr. Tony Mendicino Jr., Chief Dental Officer, Finger Lakes Community Health
I’ve worked in community dental health for over 30 years. In that time, I’ve seen the need for dental care for the underserved to increase while access to that care has decreased. The number of dentists that accept Medicaid in New York State has drastically declined in the last 10 years, creating long wait times for those that can be seen. The situation is even more dire in rural populations.
For Medicaid and under-insured populations in rural areas, the wait time to schedule an appointment with a dentist can be as much as 8 months or longer.
Ten of New York’s rural counties are considered Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas for the Medicaid and under-insured populations. If the state doesn’t act, that will only get worse.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), like Finger Lakes Community Health where I work, are community-based health care organizations that provide comprehensive care to underserved populations. FQHCs serve patients regardless of immigration status, insurance coverage, or ability to pay, playing a critical role in the health care safety net. Unfortunately, they are the hardest hit by workforce shortages, cuts to Medicaid, and rollbacks to federal funding.
When New York State opens the door for dental therapists to provide care, it will benefit patients, providers, communities, and health centers. Here’s how:
Dental Therapy Means Quicker Care for Patients
Patients will be able to see a dental therapist for some basic treatment services, such as filling cavities and extracting a tooth as well as for preventive care like sealants, and fluoride varnish. That means preventing decay before it starts and treating disease early before a small cavity turns into a painful tooth that needs to be removed. It means more providers educating patients on oral health care and avoiding painful dental disease down the road. All this gives patients a better quality of life without a long wait for care.
Dental Therapists Free Up Dentists to Work on More Complicated Cases
With dental therapists providing preventive care and basic treatment services, dentists are available to address more complicated issues, like root canals and wisdom teeth. I look forward to working alongside dental therapists so that I can work at the top of my license while also serving more patients.
Dental Therapy Follows the Model of Physician’s Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in Medical Offices
Thirty years ago, we were having a similar conversation about adding Physicians Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to New York’s healthcare workforce.
Most of us have seen the benefit of having these additional providers on our care team – we can see someone about a concern quicker, we have developed relationships with the NPs and PAs in our primary care practices, and we know that a doctor will be consulted as needed.
The same would be true of dental therapists – more people would get care quicker, they will get to know patients within the practice, and they will work closely with the dentists at the clinic. As a dentist, I am excited about working within a larger care team to serve more patients, address problems faster, and prevent dental disease before it can take hold.
Adding Dental Therapists to New York’s Care Team Makes Sense
Dental workforce shortages are a matter of health equity – rural, low-income, and underserved communities are most likely to go without dental care, leading to higher rates of dental disease, a lower quality of life, and higher risk of other health conditions. I see this in our clinics every day, and I know New York can do better.
We can’t wait any longer to improve dental care, bring down costs, and improve lives – let’s make dental therapy happen.