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Lee Krahenbuhl - The Oral Health Collaborative recently posted a study that had some shocking news about oral health care in Oregon. They determined that 77 people visit an emergency room in Oregon every day for easily preventable dental related issues. To combat this shocking fact in Oregon, reporters have launched a series of discussions about the issue called Oregon’s Oral Exam. There is also an even bigger effort that has been organized by the Oral Health Funder Collaborative and the Oregon Health Authority. This pair of organizations is hoping to tackle the shortage of oral health care professionals in thestate as well as providing oral health education to the younger generation so that they will establish healthy habits early. The role of the Oral Health Funders Collaborative is to develop the plan while the Oregon Health Authority oversees what they are doing. The role of Oregon’s Oral Exam is to talk to the public and note their concerns and communicate those with the other organization. Among the problems that these organizations will face is that Oregon is a very low-income state. That is why not many dentists and dental hygienists want to work in the state because they can make more money working somewhere else. Also, those who are poorest in the state are uninsured so they are most likely to go to the ER for oral health treatments, where they are most likely to get painkillers and antibiotics and then be turned away. Also, dental benefits have not been required in the state that is why many are not insured. It wasn’t until 2014 that dental health benefits actually covered more than just emergency room care. Now that there is more coverage, the state of Oregon needs to work on getting enough dental professionals to keep up with demand so that their inhabitants are healthy.
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