Annual dental checks are essential to overall health. But of the 67 counties in Florida, experts say, only one has enough dentists to treat all patients. Nine counties in Florida have fewer than three practicing dentists apiece. Lafayette County, in north Florida, doesn’t have a single one. In Florida and across the nation, vulnerable and marginalized communities — already prone to higher rates of chronic disease and limited access to health care — are left behind in these dental deserts. There, patient volume exceeds the capacity of providers, or too few dentists are willing to serve those on Medicaid or the uninsured. Constricting the pool of dentists are low — or nonexistent — reimbursement rates for services paid through the state’s Medicaid programs. Meanwhile, costly dental education can make dentists reluctant to work in more rural areas.
Read the full article: Millions Are Stuck in Dental Deserts, with No Access to Oral Health Care //
Source: https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/dental-deserts-florida-access-to-oral-care