Legislation would eliminate barriers to dental care, increase Florida's dental workforce

When it comes to oral health, Florida is one of the worst states in the nation. That’s because Florida families have limited access to quality dental care, and many cannot afford it.

There’s a proposed bill this legislative session that can improve our rankings. More importantly, it can help Florida families get the dental care they need and deserve.

HB 997, filed by Rep. Melony Bell, and SB 1444, filed by Sen. Jason Brodeur, will eliminate unnecessary barriers to oral care, especially for those who can least afford it. The bills also increase the dental workforce in Florida.

While Floridians of all ages suffer from poor oral health, kids — especially from families with low incomes — suffer disproportionately. Twenty percent of children in Florida suffer from treatable dental problems. One in four third-grade children in Florida have untreated tooth decay, making Florida sixth in the nation for the highest percent of third-grade children with unfilled cavities.

The pain affects their education and their future career. Studies show that poor oral health in children is linked to poor performance in school; you cannot learn if you are in dental pain.

Absent proper dental care in childhood, Floridians grow up without an education on how to care for their teeth. Faced with severe pain, Floridians flood hospital emergency rooms seeking care for untreated dental problems.

In 2019, Florida hospitals billed more than $624 million dollars for preventable ER visits and hospital admissions associated with painful oral health conditions. Taxpayers bear the brunt of these high bills as Medicaid paid for 40% of the visits.

Seniors also suffer greatly as 34% of Floridians 65 and over have lost six teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease. More than 14% of senior citizens have had all their teeth extracted.

During my career as a dentist, I saw many of these cases. Much of the pain and suffering tied to the teeth and mouth could have been prevented with proper care and early treatments.

The consequences of poor oral health stretch far beyond a dentist’s scope, however. Poor dental health is at the root of more serious and more costly health conditions. Patients with serious dental conditions are 25% more likely to suffer from heart disease and challenges with diabetes.

Rep. Bell and Sen. Brodeur will not let this pain and suffering continue. These two lawmakers are committed to break down barriers, increase access and make dental care more affordable. Their bills — HB 997 and SB 1444 — will improve the oral health and quality of life for Floridians.

One way the bills increase access is by expanding locations mobile dental units can provide services. Mobile dental units provide critical dental services at county health departments and federally qualified health centers to vulnerable populations who may not otherwise be able to see a dentist. The bill adds additional locations where mobile dental units can provide care to include programs administered by state agencies, nonprofit community health centers, Head Start centers, schools, clinics and group homes for adults with disabilities.

The proposed legislation also removes barriers for Floridians to receive dental care in health access settings. The bills enable dental hygienists to apply temporary fillings to prevent the progression of decay in health access settings. The bills eliminate the requirement for children to have an exam by a dentist within a year after they have had a cleaning in a health access setting, in order to have another cleaning.

HB 997 and SB 1444 will help strengthen Florida’s workforce of dental hygienists by making simple changes to the exam that were implemented during COVID and will bring Florida in line with 39 other states across the nation.

These changes may seem minor, but they will have a big impact on a system that is broken and is causing Floridians pain and suffering.

The bills have broad support from stakeholders who care deeply for the health of our children and our communities. Floridians for Dental Access is a bipartisan coalition of more than 68 organizations that are working to increase access to dental care in Florida by eliminating unnecessary barriers.

We are grateful to Rep. Bell and Sen. Brodeur for championing a measure that furthers our mission. Now, we just need the support of their colleagues in the Legislature.

Write to your state senator and state representative and tell them to give Floridians the dental care they need and deserve. Ask them to vote for HB 997 and SB 1444.

Frank Catalanotto, DMD, is a founding member of Floridians for Dental Access. The opinions he expresses are his own and do not reflect the opinions of any other organizations he is associated with.

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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Frank Catalanotto: Bill would remove dental care barriers in Florida