Janis Sunderhaus with Health Partners in Western Ohio says patients often repeatedly go to emergency rooms for broken teeth, cavities and abscesses that could have been avoided with good preventative dental care.
“This sets up a very vicious cycle that poor people often face of only seeking dental care when they are in pain. This means all preventative services are eliminated. These are the services that can help them keep their teeth until the end of their days.”
The Universal Health Care Action Network report shows emergency room treatment for dental problems cost the state $188.5 million in 2010 and the first half of 2011.
Nearly 4.5 million children and adults in Ohio lack dental coverage.