Myths vs Facts

Myths vs Facts

Dental Access Myths and Facts

Can you tell the difference between a myth and fact about access to dental care in Florida? Learn the truth about the most common dental access myths.

Myth

People with dental problems can always just go to the emergency room.

Fact

Emergency departments are not equipped to treat dental problems and typically provide just temporary pain relief.
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Myth

Increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rate will allow more people to see dentists.

Fact

Raising Medicaid reimbursements will help some but increases in access are mostly modest and very expensive. More is needed in Florida to solve the oral health crisis.
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Myth

Loan forgiveness helps rural communities attract and retain dentists.

Fact

Loan forgiveness is an expensive strategy that isn’t large enough to attract and recruit enough dentists to impact access to care in rural communities.
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Myth

Having poor oral health isn't such a big deal.

Fact

Poor oral health has been linked to many systemic illnesses and also affects confidence, self-esteem, ability to eat, speak, smile, school attendance, learning and performance.
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Myth

Free dental clinics take care of the people who can't afford dental care.

Fact

Charity is not a health care system. It is, in effect, the definition of second-tier care.
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Myth

Florida already has plenty of dentists.

Fact

66 of Florida’s 67 counties have Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. The overall number of licensed dentists in a state does nothing to assess provider adequacy.
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