When my practice is running at its normal capacity I usually fit in 2-3 patients with broken teeth per week. I was mandated in Massachusetts by Gov. Baker to shutdown my dental practice for 12 weeks. During that time we were allowed to see immediate emergencies. However only about 5 patients called with broken teeth the entire time. Most people assumed they were not allowed to go to the dentists even if their tooth was broken. So by my estimation there are about 20-30 people just from my single dental practice that have postponed necessary treatment. Just this week one of those patients presented with a broken tooth which now needed a root canal, a core buildup and a crown (estimated cost $4,000). 6 months ago it would have just needed a filling. (estimated costs $350).
Broken teeth are not a matter of life and death and despite the fact that the vast majority of Covid-19 patients recover, some do not. The argument regarding underlying conditions and how Covid-19 deaths are reported is not the point of this blog, so I will not discuss that here. My point is that many medical conditions that have gone untreated are a matter of life and death. How many people missed their cancer follow-up screenings, their mammograms, their colonoscopies, ignored heart symptoms, did not get that spot on their skin checked out?? The poor outcomes of this medical neglect by our health system which was mandated to protect the public health from one ailment will surely be incalculable.
I feel that when we look back on 2020 our public health decisions will look very short sighted.
Unfortunately, the outcomes will be worse for the people at the highest risk. I am attaching a report from the American Dental Society that spotlights this very real concern in our children’s oral health.
Dental Visits, Other Health Services Decline Sharply For Children In Medicaid, CHIP, CMS Says
Bloomberg (9/23, Brown) reports, “The COVID-19 pandemic is harming the long-term health of low-income children, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Wednesday.” The article reports that “vaccination rates, primary preventive care, and screenings among children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program have plummeted during the pandemic, the CMS said.” For instance, CMS said that between March and May, dental services declined 69%.
Modern Healthcare (9/23, Johnson, Subscription Publication) reports that “CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the findings were a call to action for state and local governments, schools, healthcare providers and families to work together to address the care gap.” Verma said, “Providers should conduct active outreach to make sure families understand it is safe to come back to the office to receive care.”
In addition, AP (9/23, Alonso-Zaldivar) reports Verma said that “the absence of these vital health care services may have lifelong consequences for these vulnerable children.” Medicaid and CHIP cover nearly 40 million children.
Also reporting are HealthLeaders Media (9/23, Commins) and FierceHealthcare (9/23, King).