When was the last time you were able to access the dental care you needed?

If you’re like many Washingtonians, especially those living on a low income or in a rural area, you may not have seen a dentist in quite some time. That’s because access to routine dental care can be abysmally difficult to obtain if you don’t have the means. This shouldn’t be the case— dental health is an essential part of overall health, and access to routine oral health care is a human right. This upcoming legislative session, we’ll be working on legislation that will advance dental care for low-income communities, communities of color, and rural communities throughout the state— and we want to hear from YOU about your experiences accessing dental care. Your answers to our survey will help expand dental care throughout Washington. 

In our Listening Sessions in low-income communities throughout Washington we consistently hear from participants that that although they have federal or state health insurance (such as Apple Health, Washington’s Medicaid program), they cannot find a dentist who will accept their insurance. In fact, only 23% of adults and 55% of kids on Medicaid receive dental care through Medicaid each year. Dentists often reject patients on Medicaid due to its low reimbursement rates. This means that instead of accessing routine, preventative care, low-income patients often only receive dental care when they are suddenly faced with a dental emergency and rush to the ER.

Kristen (left, with her son Brennan), a community advocate from Seattle, knows the struggle first-hand of trying to access dental care while living on a low income and providing for her young son. Kristen’s insurance didn’t cover the routine procedure of getting a couple fillings and crowns, and she was instead informed that she would have to get partial dentures at the age of 30. As Kristen says, “Instead of paying my debt I had incurred while homeless, I saved my tax returns [to pay for my dental work out of pocket], and lived in pain. Almost three years after that initial visit, I fixed my teeth.” Read the rest of Kristen’s story here.

Dental Therapy is a proven way to get Washingtonians the care they deserve

No one should have to live in pain for years while saving up money for commonplace dental procedures. Enter Dental Therapists—dental care professionals who can provide high-quality, routine, preventative oral health care (such as cleanings, fluoride treatments, cavity fillings, and extractions) for a lower cost than dentists. Dental Therapists work in dental clinics alongside dentists and other oral health care providers, like hygienists or dental assistants. Their efficacy and critical role in expanding dental care to communities that need it is already proven, because dental therapists have been working in Washington state’s tribal communities since 2017.

The evidence is there: it’s beyond time to allow dental therapists to practice in all of Washington state. In 2020, we’ll be working alongside the Children’s Alliance and Washington CAN to pass HB 1317 / SB 5392 and expand dental therapy. Help us pass this bill and let us know— what has been your experience accessing the dental care you need? Have you been able to afford care for yourself and your family? Your responses will help us show lawmakers how critical dental therapy is for Washington communities. If you have a story about your experience that you’d like to share in detail, please provide your contact information and someone from our campaign will get in touch with you.