ADA president lists potential solutions to tackle state’s dental care issues
In an article published in The Seattle Times, ADA President Linda J. Edgar, D.D.S., provided potential solutions for improving access to high-quality, affordable dental care in Washington state.
Dr. Edgar said members of the ADA, Washington State Dental Association and local dental societies often visit schools, participate in free clinics across the state and offer care in underserved communities to increase dental care access to all residents. Despite these efforts, dental care is still lacking in Washington.
As a result, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences established a new school of dental medicine that will begin accepting patients in the fall of 2025. The institution will place its dental students in three federally qualified health centers in underserved communities. The Regional Initiatives in Dental Education program at the University of Washington School of Dentistry further supports rural communities in need of more accessible dental care by transferring dental students to rural areas to complete their degrees.
Dr. Edgar also stressed that policymakers should enact legislation to protect a majority of the premiums that residents pay for dental coverage, also known as dental loss ratio. In doing so, insurance companies would be required to spend at least 83% of the money they receive on dental care or face consequences. Other policies could be adopted — such as those enacted in Massachusetts — that would prohibit dental insurance companies from spending high percentages of premiums on higher administrative expenses, executive salaries or corporate profits; increase support for stronger dental plans at smaller businesses; and reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenses.
Among other recommendations were to enhance Washington’s dental Medicaid program and create a new license for dental assistants performing basic preventive care in order to address dental hygienist shortages.
“Access to quality, affordable oral health care is a major issue in Washington. As dentists, we urge the legislature to continue our partnership in fighting this fight,” concluded Dr. Edgar.
Read more: The Seattle Times
The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.