Dental insurance, one tooth at a time
August 13, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Devin Ramos shows off his teeth after receiving dental care through the Children’s Health Initiative. Photo Contributed
Nine-year-old Devin Ramos has visited the dentist three times in two months this summer.
Before that, he hadn’t seen a dentist in about four years.Devin’s mother, Regan Ramos, said she values dental health. When her sister told her about KC Kids, a program offering medical care to uninsured King County residents age 20 and younger, she signed Devin up for a dental checkup.
“He was a little scared at first,” said Ramos. “But after he talked to them, he said, ‘That was easy.’”
Last year, about 7,000 children in the county didn’t qualify for some type of private or public dental insurance. To help combat the problem, the Washington Dental Service, a Seattle nonprofit with 2,200 dentists statewide, gave the county $1 million. The program is part of King County Executive Ron Sims’ Children’s Health Initiative, aimed at providing regular doctor and dental care for children of low-income households.
The program runs through Dec. 31, 2008. Once enrolled, children are covered for the remainder of the year. In January, families will need to apply for benefits through the state.
Devin, a student at Snoqualmie Elementary, has used the program to fill some cavities. His mother, a caregiver at North Bend’s Red Oak Retirement Residence, recently acquired insurance through her job, but “they said since I just got insurance, I’ll still qualify until December,” she said.
To qualify, families must live in King County and have no dental coverage. The program is for families earning between 250 percent and 300 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s $4,308 to $5,163 monthly for a family of four. Families with income below KC Kids’ standards can qualify for other dental programs. The program provides everything from cleanings to fillings, fluoride and sealants at no cost.
Project Manager of Washington Dental Service Darlene O’Neill commended the Snoqualmie Valley School District for helping her spread the word about KC Kids by sending flyers home with students.
“Not every school district is that receptive,” O’Neill said.
As of June 15, 445 children have enrolled in KC Kids for dental care.
Dentist Kelly Garwood in North Bend accepts youth from KC Kids, but has yet to have anyone apply for her services through the program.
A state survey conducted in 2005 found that the rate of tooth decay among Washington children is growing with one in five elementary school-aged children having rampant untreated decay – cavities in seven or more teeth. Right about the time junior is blowing out the candles at his first birthday party, he should be making his first visit to the dentist.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend that children have their first dental visit by their first birthday, said Dr. Joel Berg, chair of the University of Washington Department of Pediatric Dentistry.
“The main message essentially is this is a preventable disease,” he said. “Left untreated, tooth decay can have a significant and dramatic effect on a child’s life.”
Nationwide, nearly 28 percent of children ages 2 to 5 had at least one cavity, according to a federal survey covering 1999 to 2004. That represents a 4 percent climb from the previous survey, 1988 to 1994, and the first significant statistical increase in 40 years. The federal government first assessed tooth decay in the 1960s. After massive efforts to put fluoride in tap water led to declining cavity rates in the 1970s, tooth decay among preschoolers leveled off in the 1980s – until now.
Poor diet, poor dental hygiene and lack of fluoridated water are among the reasons cited for the increase in pre-school cavities, Berg said.
“Poor dental health is almost always preventable,” he said.
Reporter Laura Geggel can be reached at 392-6434 x221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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