“Myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them.” ~French philosopher Albert Camus
In our previous blog, Dr. Garry Millard of Mountain Family Health Centers reminded us of a common misperception among oral health providers: that serving even just one Medicaid or uninsured family can “open up the flood gates” and overwhelm a practice.
While some Medicaid patients may be more medically complex than other patients, and perhaps require more administrative oversight, dentists have the freedom to identify a cap for their practice that takes into account their unique earnings goals, the number of hours they want to work, and their own personal motivation to serve vulnerable communities. But there’s no one-size-fits-all formula – each dentist has the opportunity to determine the mix of patients works best for them.
Another myth related to Virtual Dental Homes (VDHs) – and the integration of VDH technologies to better serve vulnerable populations throughout Colorado – is that dental care provided in schools and other community settings is second-rate. In truth, however, the SMILES project’s patient-centered, Dentist-directed approach ensures a far less traumatic first dental experience among patients – no needles, no drills, and a relaxed, familiar environment that helps build trust. That result is better care than cases where, for example, a child’s first dental experience is getting an infected tooth extracted due to inadequate or nonexistent preventive care – which, in turn, potentially contributes to a lifelong phobia of dental services.
Indeed, a foundational strength of the SMILES Dental Project is an emphasis on disease prevention – rather than disease treatment – which means discomfort among patients is kept to a minimum.
What about access? Some dentists don’t believe that access to care is much of a problem – but it’s a very real barrier among low-income residents in remote Colorado areas. Dr. Millard says the misperception arises when dentists see openings in their appointment books, falsely associating their availability with a lack of demand. In truth, however, cost, transportation, language and culture all contribute to at-risk children and families not pursuing the care they need.
Perhaps the greatest misunderstanding about the SMILES approach – now including VDH technologies – is that it’s untested. But in truth, it’s a rigorously evidence-based approach that’s been proven to be reliable and effective over the course of more than two decades. Says Dr. Millard, “Most American dental schools still emphasize managing caries by drilling and filling – which isn’t disease management at all, it’s just filling holes.”
“SMILES, on the other hand, is an holistic approach to oral health care that takes into account all the potential causes of the onset of dental disease – a departure from the traditional acute care model. In this outdated model, many patients only visit the dentist when they are in acute pain. Unfortunately, when severe pain is the motivator, the only treatment is often a root canal or an extraction, and the missing tooth needs to be replaced, driving up the cost of treatment to a level that many patients can’t afford.
“What we’re doing with the SMILES Project is preventing disease in the first place, or managing it early on to avoid more painful and costlier treatments down the road.”
What myths and misperceptions about the SMILES approach and VDHs have you come across? Share your thoughts on Facebook.
