Dental Access Now! Slideshow

About Dental Access Now!

ABOUT

Dental Access Now! is a campaign of UHCAN Ohio working to reduce the dental care shortage in Ohio by expanding the dental care team. Our mission is to improve oral health for children and adults who currently can’t get the dental care they need.

Nearly one in five children and half of all Ohio adults do not have dental insurance. Despite the fact that oral health is essential to overall health, many Ohioans must choose between dental care and other expenses of daily living. As a result, many people live in pain, miss school or work and, in extreme cases, face life-threatening medical emergencies from consequences of dental infections.

A promising approach is expanding the dental care team to train and employ new midlevel providers who, under the supervision of a dentist, can provide preventive dental services, cleanings, fillings and routine extractions to residents of dental shortage areas.

UHCAN Ohio support for Dental Hygienists


Dental hygienists are a critical part of the dental team. They provide services that keep people healthy and prevent tooth decay and other disease. Because of the time they spend with patients, dental hygienists are leaders in providing preventive care and education that are essential to improve our dental health care crisis.

From our conversations with dental hygienists, we recognize that changes in law and practice are needed to allow them to work to the full extent of their training, including providing services when a dentist is not physically present. We support these changes as necessary to our goal of expanding dental care. Expanding the reach of hygienists will enable them to reach more children and adults with more preventive care and education.

 

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