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Dentists line up against bill meant to increase dental coverage

George Gorgo
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https://flic.kr/p/7Bve1H

A bill that passed out of the Michigan Senate last week aims to increase dental care in underserved communities.

But not everyone thinks the bill will actually get dental service to more people.

The bill would create a position called dental therapists, who would only need four years of school, as opposed to the eight years mandated for dentists.

Dental therapists would be required to serve either in federal health centers or underserved areas or have at least 50% of their patients uninsured or covered by Medicaid.

Democratic State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. is a sponsor of the bill. He said 77 of Michigan’s 83 counties have underserved areas.

“Right now it’s pretty hard to get coverage when you’re in these areas. People have to drive hundreds of miles in order to find a dentist that will actually take them.”

Bill Sullivan is with the Michigan Dental Association, which has come out against the bill.

“The Michigan Dental Association is opposed to the bill for several reasons. Number one is we believe only a dentist should perform irreversible surgical procedures and that’s because they have the training. They get the eight years of training compared to what would be four years for a dental therapist.”

Sullivan said the state needs to do a better job of incentivizing dentists into underserved communities.

“Michigan does not have a shortage of dentists. The problem is there is a maldistribution of dentists. The dentists are settling in the urban areas and they aren’t going to the rural areas. The main reason is they can’t make a living in the urban areas.”

Sullivan said Minnesota, which piloted a similar program, did not see an increase of services to underserved communities.

Bill sponsors disagreed saying the program did lead to better coverage.