Alaska's Rural Dental Care Improving

Dental News

Alaska's efforts to deliver quality dental care to its underserved rural population via The Dental Health Aide Therapy program (DHAT) has been so successful that is being heralded as a model for other states according to a study done by RTI International of Research Triangle Park in North Carolina with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Alaska's Rasmuson Foundation and Bethel Community Services Foundation.

The study was an independent evaluation of the DHAT program in confirmed that dental therapists at work in five Alaska communities are providing safe, competent, appropriate dental care to children and adults. Based on the Alaska study, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation announced a $16 million initiative back in November to fund similar programs in Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Vermont and Washington.

Dentist Puts Money Where Patients Mouth Is

DENTAL NEWS: Perhaps it's a sign of the economic times, but one California dentist is so concerned over the lack of dental care many senior citizens are receiving that he's putting his money where their mouth is... literally.

Dr. Doug Reams, a dentist in Lucerne, California, is offering a 10-percent senior discount to all seniors in September and October. "We all need to do what we can in today's economic downturn. Lucerne, being a small community, I want to give something back," explained Reams.

Dr. Reams has practiced dentistry in Lucerne for 32 years and recently has become quite concerned over the lack of proper dental care many seniors in his area receiving. "It is sad to see seniors unable to keep up with their dental needs because they live on a fixed income," Reams said. "Proper dental hygiene can aid in the prevention of many medical illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, heart problems, joint pain, stroke and a lot more."