Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/76514
on oral health is lacking, dental pain or in- fection is often treated at home like a cold or flu. But unlike these ailments, dental pain and infections won't go away with rest and fluids. Instead, they become urgent situa- tions when ignored. "Last year, there were $1.6 million in medical dental visits in emergency rooms in our area," says Dowd, pointing out the costly burden in health care dollars and the strain placed on overwhelmed hospital emergency departments. "We see that here at this event [the impact of]…swelling and injuries that went untreated. We've done more extractions than we have fillings, an indication that infections have been left too long." Thanks to events like MOM, many are getting a one-time chance at tal care they need—and the issue itself is brought to the forefront at a time when it's difficult for some patients to get care and for some dental practices to survive. the den- According to a Wisconsin dental work- force report released in 2010, 1 million low-income individuals, or 20 percent of Wisconsin residents, were beneficiaries of BadgerCare at some point in the prior year. It also indicates that about 43 percent of actively practicing Wisconsin dentists participated in the BadgerCare program, a higher percentage than in other states despite being reimbursed just $.38 for every dollar of care provided. Because of these low reimbursements, seeing BadgerCare patients can put a strain on the health of a private dental business, especially small practices in rural areas. According to a report published by the Oral Health Coalition of Dane County in May 2012, only about 10 percent of den- tists serving Medicaid patients were ac- cepting new patients, which can create long waiting lists and make it difficult to maintain oral health. Dr. Amy Kramer, a colleague of Dowd's at Children's Dental Center, notes the unique position their company is in. They are a private dental practice able to accept BadgerCare. She indicates that about 30 to 50 percent of the patients seen at their three clinics are part of the program. "We've found a successful business model that just works, and we're able to do it without shifting losses onto other pa- tients in the practice," she says. But not all dental practices are in a po- sition to do so. Kramer notes that she's seen patients who have driven three hours because there is not a dentist in their town able to take BadgerCare or the waiting list is too long for an urgent need. 56 BRAVA Magazine August 2012