There is an ongoing debate among dentists over whether mobile dental
clinics should be reimbursed through Medicaid for sealing children’s
teeth.
There is a stirring debate currently happening in many areas around the
country. It deals with whether or not mobile dental clinics should be
able to receive payment from Medicaid. The question is primarily being
addressed by pediatric dentists around the country who fear that this
measure would prevent parents from bringing their children to more
traditional clinics for comprehensive oral care. This question may be
either a huge step forward or a stumbling block on the road for these
mobile clinics to continue bringing access to care to underserved
populations.
Mobile dentists are not a new phenomenon. In fact nonprofit
organizations and public health departments have been providing dental
care from these roving buses for years. They usually set up at school
campuses or church parking lots for a few days or a weekend and then
offer free sealants to the teeth of underserved children. These sealants
provide protection against cavities and reduce the need for other
services. Up until now however it has not been possible to bill the
government for these treatments unless a parent is present at the time
of treatment. There is among some dentists a push to change this so that
they can serve more children.
On the other side of the issue are dentists who fear that by allowing
and actively promoting this sort of care it will reduce the overall
public opinion of visiting an established dental clinic. They say that
this reduces the kids’ access to other important diagnostic tools like
cleanings and x-rays. They fear that by simply sealing teeth there will
be an increase in other oral problems besides cavities.
While this camp is correct in theory that it is better to have kids go
to an office and have annual check-ups the reality is that this is not
happening. Less than 20% of lower income children even have sealants on
their molars. In families where the decision is between paying the rent
and going in for preventative care there is no question of where the
priority is. The problem is not whether kids should go see their regular
dentists. The problem is that many kids do not have regular care.
Proponents of this issue state explicitly that if they could they would
provide comprehensive dental care for every child.
The best thing that can be done outside of the law is for parents to
instill good oral hygiene practices form an early age. Emphasizing the
importance of brushing and flossing after every meal and before bed is
the first defense against the pain of rotten teeth.
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