Dental care elusive for low-income Floridians

Thursday November 23, 2006 in: Dental Care Tag(s):

You would think that the State of Florida, being part of the richest and most powerful nation on earth, won't have citizens who'll have problems getting much-needed proper dental care. But it does, according to a report from the Pensacola News Journal:

Like thousands of Northwest Florida residents, Krista Mouw is on Medicaid and has no dental insurance.

She can't find a dentist who will accept her as a patient.

"I have an episode about every two months with my wisdom teeth," said Mouw, 23, a stay-at-home mom who lives in Pace. "I've decided to just give up and live with the pain."

Extracting her wisdom teeth would cost at least $1,200 - more if a surgeon has to perform the procedure.

Mouw said she can't afford to pay the entire charge at one time, and she can't find a dentist willing to extend credit.

She's just one of thousands of low-income Pensacola Bay Area residents who can't find dental care.

And no one can really blame the dentists for not being that enthusiastic about treating patients on Medicaid.

Medicaid offers limited dental services to begin with. It covers most procedures for children but only dentures and emergency work - like extractions - for adults.

Even then, Medicaid bases payments on the going rate for dental services in a given area - and offers what the lowest 10 percent of providers charge.