PAGD Keystone Explorer Fall 2019

As we look in this issue to address treatment of those with special needs, I also want to spotlight another need: That of treatment for the underserved population of Pennsylvania. There are far too many people in our great state that, for a variety of reasons, are not able to receive appropriate and timely oral health care. Whether it is a lack of access to a Medicaid dental provider, transportation issues, or no room in the budget to cover the copays and deductibles even when a family does have dental insurance, there are significant oral health care needs that go unmet. My thinking on this issue is that if we all do a little, we can accomplish a lot for the people of Pennsylvania. As a profession, dentists provide a tremendous benefit to the health of their patients, and I feel confident that most would be willing to help meet the needs of the underserved if they just knew more about how to do that. A very easy way to get involved is through the Mission of Mercy events that are held twice a year in Pennsylvania: One in Pittsburgh and one held at different locations statewide. At these events you can choose the type of care you want to provide: Restorative (my choice the last two years), endo, oral surgery, prosthetics, dental hygiene, triage. You can also volunteer for a little as one morning or afternoon session, or you can do one or even two full days. It is a very rewarding way to have a positive effect on the lives of those who come for care, and it is not a long term or ongoing commitment. Another way to get involved would be to volunteer with an organization such as Donated Dental Services (www.dentallifeline. org). In this case, you work with the organization that has screened patients and try to pair them up with dentists in their area who agree to provide their dental services free of charge. There can sometimes be a participating dental lab who will provide any lab services free or at a discount. In this way, you can provide help through to completion for that person and set them up for good oral health in the future. The main system for providing oral health care to the underserved segments of our state’s population is the Medicaid system. The main barrier to treatment is the lack of a nearby participating dental office, which is most often attributed to the low reimbursement rates of the Medicaid system. I myself am largely unaware of the exact terms or options of being involved in providing care within the Medicaid system, which I feel may be the case for some of you reading this article as well. I will make it a priority of the PAGD Board of Directors to help educate our members on the nuances and options of being a Medicaid provider. In this way, our organization may be able to positively affect the ability of those dependent on this system to receive the care they need in a timely manner. Finally, look within your community for ways to contribute to the oral health of those right in your area. Collaborating with churches, shelters, Head Starts, or other charitable organizations may be a way to be matched with an individual or family in need and be able to have a positive effect on their lives. But in one way or another there are many options to choose from to volunteer your services to help solve the problem of unmet dental care needs in Pennsylvania. In this way, you can decide when and how to offer your help, and we can show the concern on the part of general dentist about this problem. So, I am making this call to action to our members. Find a way to get involved and help to meet the needs of those who need it the most and can afford it the least. Meeting the Need 2 www.pagd.org | president’s message Scott Hudimac, DDS, MAGD “Collaborating with churches, shelters, Head Starts, or other charitable organizations may be a way to be matched with someone or a family in need and be able to have a positive effect on their lives.”