Support Dental Access in Washington!

Routine dental care is basic health care. But many adults and children in Washington can’t get the care they need.

House Bill 2226 and Senate Bill 6126 can change that, by expanding access to routine and preventative dental care for adults and children in Washington. It does this by creating a Licensed Dental Practitioner, a mid-level provider similar to a nurse practitioner in a doctor’s office. They work under the supervision of a dentist, provide routine and preventative care, and extend the reach of dental care to people who are going without the care they need. This model has already been successfully implemented in Alaska and Minnesota.

The top five reasons it’s important to support House Bill 2226/Senate Bill 6126:

• A recent survey found that a majority of Americans have put off dental care in the past 12 months because it’s too costly. Untreated dental problems turn into health crises – and they are the number one reason that uninsured Washingtonians sought emergency room care between January 2008 and June 2009.
• Access to dental care is an issue of opportunity and equity. Dental care is least accessible to low-income people, people of color, and those who live in rural areas.
• Right now, 30 out of 39 counties in Washington face a shortage of dental care professionals.
• Creating a new mid-level dental provider – a dental therapist – is an effective way to create much needed jobs and meet the growing demands and needs of communities across our state.
• Licensed Dental Practitioners could provide much needed affordable and timely routine and preventative dental care in Washington State.

House Bill 2226 and Senate Bill 6126 will expand the reach of dental care in Washington. Send an email to your legislators TODAY telling to support access to affordable dental care by supporting House Bill 2226 and Senate Bill 6126!

For more information and personal stories that highlight the current lack of dental access in Washington, check out our report, The Mouth Matters. Questions? Interested in getting involved in the campaign? Email Mariah at mariah@washingtoncan.org!