THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
NEWS
7A
HEALTH
Kansas faces dentist shortage and affordability problems
BY ANNA ARCHIBALD aarchibald@kansan.com
While going to the dentist can be an unpleasant experience, the necessity of it is undeniable. Kansas residents are facing a shortage of dentists and affordable dental care in rural areas, including Douglas County.
In addition, 57 Kansas counties were reported to not have enough dentists who accept Medicaid or catered to low-income patients, according to a KDHE report.
In Kansas, 91 of the 105 counties have a shortage of dental care, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Office of Local and Rural Health.
"There is definitely a shortage of dentists who are willing to see patients with Medicaid or those who are uninsured," Julie Branstrom, executive director of the Douglas County Dental Clinic, said. "And often times, students fall into this category."
"We all need access to dental care," said Dr. Katherine Weno, director of the KDHE Bureau of Oral Health. "Especially students who don't have funding."
The biggest problem with students finding dental care services, however, is the absence of available dental care on campus.
NOT INSURED?
Mat Hester, marketing coordinator for Student Health Services, said
WHO: Douglas County Dental Clinic
WHAT: Free Dental Day to first 60 patients.
WHERE: 6 a.m. Friday
WHEN: 316 Main St.
Anyone with a dental concern can stop by for a
the health center was not anticipating the addition of dental care services for students.
"All we can do is recommend students to local dental care clinics such as Health Care Access or to a private provider," Hester said.
Nick Kenning, Hutchinson senior and president of the KU Pre-Dental Club, said he is one of many students concerned with the current shortage of dentists. One reason for this is the shortage of seats available in dental schools.
"Right now there aren't enough seats to supply the demand," Kenning said.
According to the KDHE study, 90.8 percent of the respondent dentists said they were concerned about the availability of dental services in the next five years.
The report said fewer than 10 percent of dentists are under 30
years old, a problem Kenning, along with many other pre-dental majors, faces.
"People who go out and get educated are more inclined to move to urban areas as opposed to a small town in the middle of nowhere," Kenning said.
This is part of what has created a shortage in dentists.
The problem of limited number of dental school graduates and the length of time needed to complete a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree will have a considerable influence on the future of dental care, according to the KDHE report.
Kenningly said he thought part of the problem was the average age of dentists in Kansas. Because most dentists are older and have more experience, they aren't as willing to accommodate lower-income patients.
"This shortage affects college students negatively because they need dental care and unless they can find help at the clinic they are kind of out of luck," Branstrom said. "A fair number of students neglect their oral health because if they are not covered by parents insurance, they simply can't afford it."
Kansas Dental Hygienists' response to the statement Availability of preventive education of oral health is adequate.
Branstrom said students operated in a "crisis mode" when it came to their oral health. This means they only go to the dentist when they had a bad tooth ache or other problem instead of going in
for regular checkups, which could be more beneficial in the long run.
"We recommend students coming in for checkups every six months," she said.
At the Douglas County Dental Clinic, service costs vary based on a sliding scale, depending on the patient's income and the type of
exam taking place. To qualify for services, patients need to be a resident of Douglas County, uninsured and make less than twice the current poverty level of $10,830 for a one-person family.
Graphic by Dylan Sands
Limited dental care service doesn't only affect students negatively now, however.
"If you go in for check ups now, problems can be caught early," Branstrom said. "It is much less expensive and evasive than waiting. If you don't go regularly, you could have cavities that are at the point of a root canal or removal."
Edited by Anna Kathaqnarath
Studyin'in the sun
Adam Buhler/KANSAN
Lauren Bowman, Seneca sophomore, studies for her sociology test behind Wescoe Hall Wednesday afternoon. Bowman took advantage of the pleasant autumn weather after two days of cold and rain.
Gov. to appoint successor
POLITICS
BY GLEN JOHNSON Associated Press
Instead, they created the special election campaign and beat back GOP efforts to supplement it with an interim appointment both that year and in 2006. Democrats argued voters should always fill a Senate vacancy.
Today, there are only 16 Republicans in the 160-member House and five in the 40-member Senate, but Wednesday's votes were
BOSTON — Massachusetts lawmakers fulfilled Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's dying wish Wednesday, granting the governor the power to appoint an interim replacement for him so President Barack Obama can regain a critical 60th U.S. Senate vote he needs to pass a health care overhaul this year.
The final House and Senate votes came after another vote in which House members refused to attach an emergency preamble to the bill. That left it up to Gov. Deval Patrick to decide whether he'll force the measure into law immediately, instead of the normal 90 days required of all legislation.
He could do so as early as Thursday, simply with a letter to the secretary of state declaring an emergency since a special election to replace Kennedy permanently won't be held until Jan. 19. But even some of his fellow Democrats have accused him of a power grab.
Democrats revoked the governor's power to fill Senate vacancies in 2004, fearing then-Gov. Mitt Romney might appoint a fellow Republican if Sen. John Kerry, (D-Mass.), won his campaign for the presidency.
far less lopsided. The House vote against the emergency preamble was 95-59, when a two-thirds vote of both chambers was needed to approve it. And the votes on the final bill were an identical 95-59 in the House and 24-16 in the Senate.
however the governor is going to write a letter to the secretary of state, saying the Legislature didn't agree it was an emergency, but I do, I can't wait to see it."
"This is not an emergency." Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn). "So
Wednesday evening from his vacation home in the Berkshire Mountains, where he has been recovering from hip replacement surgery for the past three weeks. Aides would not say whether he had any announcements or bills signings planned.
urging him to seek a ruling from the Supreme Judicial Court before signing the bill.
"This is not an emergency. So however the governor is going to write a letter...I can't wait to see it."
PAUL FROST
Massachusetts
representative
Patrick was returning to Boston
A top Patrick aide confirmed the
Four House Republicans, all attorneys, wrote Patrick a letter urging him to seek
made confirmed the contacts but said no decision had been made. A spokeswoman in Patrick Kennedy's congressional office declined to comment.
The 71-year-old Kirk, a Boston attorney, was close friends with the senator. He and his wife, Gail, live on Cape Cod, and he
was among the few regular visitors allowed at Kennedy's Hyannis Port home before he succumbed to a malignant tumor.
BUSINESS
Dow Jones creeps closer to 10,000
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK - Investors were encouraged by the Fed's latest improved assessment of the economy, but not enough to propel the Dow Jones industrial average past 10,000.
That allayed any lingering concerns that the Fed was considering a rate increase, something it will have to do eventually in order to keep inflation in check. In its statement, the Fed said it would "continue to employ a wide range of tools" to spur a recovery while also staving off inflation.
Stocks closed lower Wednesday as a brief rally followed the Fed's economic statement and then faded. The Dow came within 82 points of crossing 10,000 for the
Stocks often trade erratically on days when the Fed meets to discuss interest rates as investors pore over the statement accompany the Fed's interest rate decision for clues about the economy and what the central bank's next steps might be.
"picked up" since their last meeting in August, and they said they would keep short-term interest rates at historically low levels near zero "for an extended period."
first time since October, but ended the day with a loss of 81.
Analysts said there were no surprises from the Fed meeting. The central bank's governors said the pace of economic activity has
HPV Fact #12 Condoms may not fully protect against HPV.
There's something you can do. Visit your campus health center.