Check-Up on Oral Health: A Michigan County Profile

Online, August 29, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Michigan Oral Health Coalition released its 2013 Check-Up on Oral Health: A Michigan County Profile report today. The annual report benchmarks each county on demographic and oral health indicators. New for 2013, the report includes resources on dental access points, insurance coverage and workforce across the state.

Oral health plays a significant role in general health and well-being throughout the lifespan. Yet, "a silent epidemic" of oral disease is affecting our most vulnerable citizens-children, the elderly, people with special needs and adults who lack access to affordable dental care. Dental disease has been associated with such chronic diseases as diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Further, recent reports correlate increased risk for poor birth and pregnancy outcomes such as preterm, low birth weight and gestational diabetes to dental disease. Strides have been made in Michigan to improve access to oral health preventive measures such as community water fluoridation and school dental sealant programs. The gains made in increasing access through the expansion of Healthy Kids Dental and the maintenance of Medicaid adult dental are offset by Michigan's challenging economic times.

Key Report Findings:

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, 1,071 Michigan residents were hospitalized due to dental-related issues in 2011-all of these considered avoidable hospitalizations. The estimated cost of care is $20 million. Visiting an emergency department and ultimately being hospitalized for dental conditions often points to inadequate access to care.

Michigan has an uneven distribution of dentists statewide with 63 Michigan counties designated as having a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area. As a result, access to care is constrained for people in these communities regardless of income or insurance coverage.

Healthy Kids Dental is recognized for improving access to care for Medicaid-enrolled children by improving provider reimbursement rates. The program, currently in 75 Michigan counties is a public-private partnership between the Michigan Department of Community Health and Delta Dental of Michigan.

Nearly one in five Michigan residents is enrolled in the state Medicaid program.

The 2013 Check-Up on Oral Health: A Michigan County Profile report is available online at www.mohc.org
Michigan Oral Health Coalition