Good Oral Health Noted as 'Essential' to Overall Health

Topeka, KS - infoZine- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today released the new Kansas Oral Health Plan at the Oral Health Kansas Annual Conference in Wichita. The plan lays the groundwork for improving access to dental care statewide.

"Good oral health is essential to protect overall health," stated Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary of KDHE. "We are grateful to all who participated in the development of this plan, which will serve as the blueprint for improving the oral health of all Kansans."

Many communities lack adequate numbers of dentists. As of June, according to the Kansas Dental Board, 1,367 dentists and 1,473 registered dental hygienists had active licenses and a practice address in Kansas. Kansas is 33rd in the nation in the number of dentists per capita, with a statewide ratio of one dentist for every 2,557 residents. This is well below the national average of one dentist per 1,650 residents noted by the American Dental Association in their 2005 national dental workforce data, the most recent available.

Furthermore, many Kansans are uninsured or underinsured for dental care, especially children and the elderly. 2006 data from the Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System show that only about 65.5 percent of Kansans surveyed reported having any sort of dental coverage, such as private insurance, public programs or Medicaid. Of those surveyed, 12.5 percent said they had needed dental care within the past 12 months but did not get it. The overwhelming reason given for not seeking care was because they could not afford the costs (78 percent). . .

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