Opinion: Lawmakers should act on the evidence and expand access to dental therapists
Northern Maine and southern California don’t seem to have a lot in common — until you start looking for affordable, accessible dental care. In such disparate communities, and thousands in between, millions of Americans can’t access the dental care they need.
Not having access to dental care can lead to serious oral and overall health issues, not to mention more intensive care later on. Poor oral health can lead to unrelenting pain, lower lifetime earnings, bankruptcy related to the cost of care, and, tragically, even death.
