UHCAN Ohio recognizes that dental hygienists are a critical part of the dental team. They provide services that keep people healthy and prevent tooth decay and other diseases. 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 access crisis. Because of their role in the dentist-led team, dental hygienists have a unique perspective on the value of allowing dental therapists to join the team in Ohio.

Don’t take it from us. Here’s what Barb Ranck, current President of the Ohio Dental Hygiene Association (ODHA), had to say about why ODHA supports our campaign to allow dental therapists to practice in Ohio: “If we allowed dental therapists and dental hygiene therapists to be utilized in this state, we could help so many more Ohioans and better serve those who can’t afford the necessary treatments they need! It’s really sad to look in a child’s mouth and see so many decayed teeth when I know it can be prevented.” She added that the dental therapist and dental hygienist therapist “would be able to go to the areas where people live that are unable to get to the bigger cities or even to a dentist due to transportation issues. They can provide the needed education that will help families to understand the importance of good oral care.”

Barb continued to explain, “I currently work in a pediatric office. We see many children who live in the Appalachian areas of our state. The amount of decay we see in patients under the age of three is huge. When I speak of decay, I’m referring to 3 or more affected teeth per patient. A lot of the parents are unable to afford the necessary treatment…needed to help all of our patients.” Often she says these are not patients who are enrolled in the Medicaid program, they are just poor Appalachian working people.

She talked about the impacts she sees every day, saying, “The lack of dental care creates a child [with] low self-esteem, improper development of the jaws, the inability to concentrate while in the class room, and someone that other children will make fun of (bully). I can say this because I teach once a month in a Baby Basics class sponsored by our local hospital, and one of the parents in the class shared that with the class. He is a teacher, and he commented that he had had a student in this exact situation.”

 She continued, “There is a huge need that needs addressed in our state. Children would do better in school if their dental treatment needs were met, which would enhance their ability to learn, which in turn makes them better citizens.”

Barb explained that ODHA endorses the Dental Access Now! campaign “because we see the need in this state to get dental care to those who are unable to get care. Dental care contributes to our overall health. The better we take care of our mouths, the healthier we will be for a longer period in our lives.”

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. We’re proud to have ODHA as a partner and supporter in our mission to increase dental access in every community in Ohio.

Next week a broad coalition of advocates for improved access to dental care will be meeting with their legislators to deliver a message of hope. We will also provide details about how dental therapists and dental hygienist therapists can change the way dental care is delivered while assuring high quality services with an evidence-based provider model. For more details, contact David Maywhoor at dmaywhoor@uhcanohio.org.