A Study of Oral Health in Rural Western New York

1. A Study of Oral Health in Rural Western New York New York State Association for Rural Health May 20th, 2010 Geneva, New York David Schirmer DDS Trustee, New York State Dental Foundation

3. Mission: • Recognizing the importance of oral health and specifically the linkage of oral health and general health and well-being, the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency (FLHSA) partnered with the S2AY Rural Health Network to assess existing dental services and gaps in services. The assessment included Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Livingston, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates Counties.

4. Dental Health Steering Committee Members • County Health Departments • Head Start Programs • Local Health Improvement Projects • Community Health Centers • School Based Dental Health Programs • Private Dental Practices

5. Method • S2AY created the Regional Dental Health Steering Committee in May 2008. Through a series of meetings between May 21, 2008 and March 30, 2009, the following were identified and assessed: • • Oral Health of Children • • Individual County Dental Needs • • Availability of organized Dental Programs and individual dental providers • • Socio-Economic Impact • • Special Need Populations • • Successful Dental Initiatives

6. Key Findings • Low income = less care • Low income = more disease • 60% of children from low income families do not receive care • 20-25% of children in most of the counties live in poverty • There is a dentist to population ratio when combined with the level of poverty (Medicaid enrollment) that qualifies the region as underserved(HRSA) • Access to sealants and fluoride varies but is improving through school programs • Recruitment efforts minimally successful

7. In one fifth of Massachusetts cities and towns there is not one single dentist. Boston Globe, October 16, 2006

8. Pennsylvania lost 5% of its dentists statewide in the past 5 years and 10% of its rural dentists.

9. According to the ADA there are 152,000 active dentists in the USA and one third of them are over the age of 55.

10. The US Department of Health and Human Services says that 31 million people live in shortage areas; they estimate that 4650 dentists would be needed to properly service those people.

11. About 5000 dentists retire each year and about 4000 begin their careers. Robert Weyant, Chairman of the Department of Public Health of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine

12. Ten Kansas counties have no dentist. Twelve others have no full time practitioner. Dodge City, Kansas , Daily Globe

13. County Assessments • Allegany Cayuga Chemung Livingston • Ontario Schuyler Seneca • Steuben Wayne Yates

27. 213 primary care Dentists in 10 counties

28. Out of 213, how many primary care dentists accept public insurance? • 22% accept Medicaid (47) • 30% accept Child Health Plus (64)

29. Prevention

37. Free Standing and Mobile VanSchool Clinics

39. Increase the number of dental professionals (Supply of services)

40. Make dental care affordable (Price of acquiring and providing services)

41. Educate consumers and professionals (Improve Demand)

42. Thank you For an electronic copy of this presentation or the report on which it was based please send a request to DCSchirmer@AOL.com