The sad truth is that one-third of Americans is faced with a very serious problem, the inability to have access to dental care. There are various reasons why this is happening. The most common ones include lack of insurance coverage, lack of dental health providers, expensive costs of dental procedures, transportation, and mobility problems. Government officials and policymakers are looking for ways to better improve the overall dental health care system. They are working very hard to take action and solve this pertinent crisis. It is essential to be updated regarding the latest statistics in the industry. It will allow you to become more aware of how health care providers are planning to improve on their policies. Dental health is as important as knowing how to cure different types of illnesses and diseases. Today, we’ll take a look at Dentist Statistics 2016 to give you an overview of what is currently happening in the industry.
MID-LEVEL DENTAL PROVIDERS
There is much evidence that the expansion of dental teams which include mid-level providers will greatly benefit dentists in their businesses. These mid-level providers are also known as dental therapists. Recent studies have shown that they will be able to help increase high quality and cost-effective dental care. From a report and evaluation made by the Minnesota Department of Health and Board of Dentistry, mid-level dental providers will be able to expand access to vulnerable populations. They would also be able to improve the efficiency of dental offices and clinics. This year, more and more states are considering pilots, legislation and other proposals for the authorization of mid-level dental providers. These states include Washington, New Mexico, Kansas, Vermont, Ohio, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Michigan.
EDUCATION STANDARDS OF DENTAL THERAPY
The accrediting body who is responsible for handling academic dental programs is called The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). This year, they have been prioritizing the implementation of dental health therapy training standards which were finalized last August 2015. After it has been successfully implemented, the educational criteria will encourage more students to take up dental therapy in colleges and universities. CODA has announced that the first dental programs would be open to the public for application in the spring of 2016.
AGING AND ORAL HEALTH
Statistics show that Americans in 2016 live longer compared to previous years. Most of them also keep their teeth strong and healthy until they reach old age. Because the population of the elderly is fast increasing, more focus is being put on oral health care and maintenance. Much effort is being done to allow more people to gain access to dental care. According to recent studies, 1 out of 5 older Americans has untreated tooth decay problems. There is also more than 40% who have accumulated periodontal diseases. There is 70% of the senior population who have limited dental insurance and less than half of them have access to dental care. According to research, utilization declines with age because of issues regarding transportation and mobility. This year, policymakers should focus more on coverage options for the senior population.