Hospital ER Dental Care

Already stressed state budgets are shouldering an extra burden to cover expensive emergency room(ER) treatment for toothaches and other avoidable dental ailments , according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts . The report , entitled “A Costly Dental Destination”, estimates that preventable problems were the primary reason for 830,590 ER visits by American in 2009-a 16% increase from 2006. They concluded that states can reduce hospital visits , strengthen oral health and reduce their costs by making modest investments to improve access to preventative care . Dental-related hospital visits are fueled by the difficulty that disadvantaged people have getting regular preventative care from dentists and other types of providers . The access problem is driven by multiple factors , including a shortage of dentists in many areas of the country and the fact that many dentists do not accept Medicaid –enrolled children. The care provided in an ER is much more expensive . and it generally doesn’t solve dental problems.