“They pull thousands of teeth here. At the end, they’ll have buckets of teeth...”

[babylonsister]

Shameful.


Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 11:50 AM PDT
“They pull thousands of teeth here. At the end, they’ll have buckets of teeth...”

by james321


Welcome to health care for the rural poor in Virginia, the state just to the south of the capital of the Greatest Nation on God's Green Earth.

It looks like this:

“I just had an 18-year-old have a full mouth extraction because she’s never had dental care,” said Beth Bortz, who runs the Virginia Center for Health Innovation. “It’s not unusual.”

She said patients often want their good teeth removed, too, because they associate teeth with pain. She said health-care providers counsel them to keep them.

And it looks like this:

Every year, hundreds of people have every one of their teeth pulled there. Then they put their names into a denture lottery, with the hope of being picked to get a set of false teeth made for them at the next year’s event. Forty-six people were picked from a list of 700 to get dentures this year.

“They pull thousands of teeth here. At the end, they’ll have buckets of teeth,” said volunteer Jennifer Lee, Virginia’s deputy secretary of health and human resources and an emergency room doctor.

And, well, it looks like this:

In a tent where people waited for a vision exam, McAuliffe knelt beside Martha Deel, whose only job is caring for her brain-injured son. Fifty-one years old, she looked decades older. After her exam, she said she would line up to see a doctor for “the girl stuff.”

No, we're not talking Gaza, or Bangladesh, or rural India, or highland Guatemala, we're talking Virginia -- one of our country's wealthiest states full of highly-profitable defense corporations, like Northrop Gunman, whose share price just rose to $123.87/share -- just in case you were wondering. Killing people is big business in Virginia, but apparently saving the lives -- and dignity...and teeth -- of those who live in this exceptional state that likes to call itself a "Commonwealth" is just not worth the money.


more...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/19/1315138/--They-pull-thousands-of-teeth-here-At-the-end-they-ll-have-buckets-of-teeth#

[pbmus]

1. isn't that the state where that repug lost his primary...nt

[tclambert]

6. Yes, Eric Cantor lost his primary to David Brat.

[WinkyDink]

2. And THIS is why no-one should have to depend on nobless oblige from BILLIONaires.

[tclambert]

7. Noblesse oblige is for noble people. Our billionaires ain't noble.

They revel in being sons-a-bitches and sticking it to their inferiors, meaning people God hasn't blessed with a fortune from birth.

And that part about Virginia being a "Commonwealth." How funny is that?

[Scuba]

3. This is why I advocate for Medicare for All, including dental, optical, hearing aids and ...

... mental health services.

We can afford it, but our politicians choose to fund fighter jets that don't work instead.

[Overseas]

25. K&R. Me too. Our current healthcare for profit hurts so many people.

[Enthusiast]

45. Me too.

Medicare for All!

[ErikJ]

4. Brush your teeth PSA Billboard signs needed

I've been seeing PSA billboards around here saying "Brush your teeth 2 times a day for 2 minutes."
I was taught this as a kid but apparently lots of poor dont ever brush out of ignorance. The US needs a lot more of these billboards apparently.

[babylonsister]

9. I was forced to brush my teeth as a kid, and

I still managed to get tons of cavities that were filled by a dentist thankfully.

Not everyone is that fortunate; maybe going to a dentist would emphasize dental hygiene? They'll never know.

[Hekate]

13. Deep fissures in molars breed bacteria that can't be brushed out. My teeth were always really clean,

...but I had fillings drilled down to my toes (or so it felt with inadequate Novocain). It wasn't until my kids' dentist urged me to have her and her brother's teeth sealed that I realized that was why I'd had so many fillings as a kid.

It's just my great good luck that my mother believed in dentistry for us despite the cost and that I have been able to afford to be rigorous about my own dental care as an adult. I mean, 7 crowns and a bunch of root canals is a bunch of adult dentistry.

As I said, lucky. If I'd been born in Virginia I might be toothless too. I winced reading about that poor teenage girl having a whole-mouth extraction. That's just so wrong that it had to be done.

As to your point about dental hygiene: in my elementary school we had lessons about how to brush our teeth as part of our "Health" segment.

[babylonsister]

18. I've had the care you had,

and the crowns, etc. Now I apparently have periodontal disease, need deep cleaning. Had 1/2 my mouth done about 2 years ago. I now have dental help (thanks, Obama!), but that shot through the top of my mouth has so far delayed me for about 6 months. Ugh. #firstworldproblems, not comparable to the OP.

[BobbyBoring]

62. OUCH!

Been there, done that. PAINFUL!

[raccoon]

50. Same here, and I'm from a pre-sealant generation.

...but I had fillings drilled down to my toes (or so it felt with inadequate Novocain). It wasn't until my kids' dentist urged me to have her and her brother's teeth sealed that I realized that was why I'd had so many fillings as a kid.

My own mother said me and my sibs were brushing our teeth, and we'd never eaten that many sweets. So she asked the dentist
why we had so many cavities in molars. He gave an explanation similar to what you posted.

I have had a root canal and crown on nearly all of my molars.

[phylny]

12. It's not only brushing or flossing,

it's diet as well. People don't eat a balanced diet, children drink "juice" which is really water and high-fructose corn syrup, and soda. Lots of soda.

Not to mention the Mountain Dew.

Most people in my area/Southwest Virginia vote Republican, because of God, Guns and Gays. So, they don't get the help they need.

[ErikJ]

14. Southern poor whites have always voted for the white slave masters .

Even though it wasnt in their best interest.

[BrotherIvan]

16. This^^

It's diet 100%.

[valerief]

20. Who the hell knows what that fracking water is doing either. nt

[snooper2]

56. This predates fracking by a couple hundred years FYI

[valerief]

59. And fracking water is making everything better????? nt

[snooper2]

61. Um, yeah, fracking wastewater keeps your teeth from falling out

[babylonsister]

28. And sweet tea! nt

[bread_and_roses]

51. More blame the victim (n/t)

[phylny]

64. It's not blaming them.

It's a sad fact of the poverty I see every day. I wish everyone had access to the dental care I have, and that they had the education and experience I have to try to avoid things that will harm their dental health.

Seriously.

[bread_and_roses]

66. I apologize if I misinterpreted your comment

Good nutrition and preventive care are always important. However, as many here have attested - and I can add my own voice - that is not always enough to prevent dental problems. Genetics, long illness, probably other things I am forgetting - all can have an effect regardless of one's habits. Certainly poverty itself is a major contributor, since the resources for both good diet and prevention are wanting.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. More likely they don't have toothpaste or floss in the house

and they have cheap, ratty toothbrushes. My early dental care was thanks to a public health clinic and the dental students praised us for having good teeth...it was a combination of genetics and my parents always made sure we had toothpaste in the house.

[Lochloosa]

22. It would help if you could afford a toothbrush and toothpaste

[ErikJ]

26. Dollar store sells 2 for $1 dont they?

[No Vested Interest]

38. It's sort of silly, but I still include toothpaste and a toothbrush in my

(adult) kids Christmas and birthday bags. They likely think it's one just of my idiosyncrasies and go along with it.

There are many toothpaste and toothbrush sales where Colgate and sometimes Crest can be bought for ca $1.00/tube.
I just picked up four Colgate toothbrushes today @ $1. each. I throw them out whenever I get a cold or throat or sinus infection, as I believe that's just reinserting the germs back into the mouth.

Two of my kids had braces and the orthodontist insisted on pulling out four of their teeth, as their mouth was too crowded. I really hated their having perfectly good teeth pulled, but that's how it had to be handled. One has since had more pulled because of cavities (too much soda, I believe) and fell and broke her front teeth as well. Luckily, a good dentist was able to save the little that was left and rebuilt on it.

[bread_and_roses]

49. Nice blame the victim (n/t)

edit for typo

[Arugula Latte]

65. Flossing is even more important, IMO. But comprehensive dental care for all is what we really need.

[tclambert]

5. They should just go to their concierge dentist

and stop eating so much cake.

[japple]

8. There is hope...somewhere

http://www.ramusa.org/#!patient-info/c22vx
Remote Area Medical

"To prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free quality healthcare to those in need."


_srz_p_600_337_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz


http://www.ramusa.org/#!meet-stan-brock/c1kmj

[ErikJ]

11. Pshaww-all ya need is this

[tomm2thumbs]

10. interesting DU link: "Don't Let them Pull Out Your Teeth..."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022305319

[babylonsister]

21. Thanks, and bookmarked. nt

[dougg]

17. the poor “have it easy” ???

More than three quarters of conservatives say the poor “have it easy”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/06/26/more-than-three-quarters-of-conservatives-say-the-poor-have-it-easy/?hpid=z4

[nomorenomore08]

43. Isn't it about time we stop pretending they're the same sub-species as the rest of us?

(I mean conservatives, not the poor. Just to be absolutely clear.)

[Enthusiast]

46. If we look back through history

we find that the privileged class always makes that assertion.

In my experience, I find that those making this claim the loudest are those that inherited their wealth through no effort of their own.

[valerief]

19. America is the greatest country in the world--for billionaires. nt

[SunSeeker]

23. Keep your teeth and get rid of your Republican congressmen, Virginia! nt

[Uncle Joe]

24. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, babylonsister.

[Helen Borg]

27. So, I take it that...

Many people don't get a denture and so they just live without teeth or denture for some time? How can they eat???

[Neoma]

31. Blender.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

35. Gummin' it.

That's the term I heard when I was a kid.

My mom had terrible teeth. Bottom ones looked like a leaning picket fence, completely backed by gold. She blamed it on Scots-Irish genes. She did brush her teeth and I remember her going to 3 different dentists, so it wasn't a lack of care. When she was old she had them all pulled and that seemed to help when she got dentures.

[Helen Borg]

37. Did she floss?

Just curious...

[ReRe]

29. What will Gov McAuliffe(sp) do?

Diane Sawyer went out to east KY a few years ago and found that their teeth were bad, mostly because of drinking Mountain Dew and no care. Thanks, b.s., for this info, and also to dailykos. Virginia, for God's sake.

[spinbaby]

30. Years ago...

....I was driving through western Virginia when I heard an ad on the radio for free dentures if you had 20 or more teeth extracted. No checks, please.

[IrishAyes]

32. I'm not sure I have 20 teeth left now. Better go count 'em.

Do remnants count?

[IrishAyes]

33. One reason so many poor people dip/chew snuff is because it deadens hunger pains

and it's cheaper than food. So now they've got mouth cancer to worry about too.

The whole situation stinks.

I still don't follow a strictly healthy diet, but I gave up sodas years ago; and it's been ages since I ate processed lunch meat too. I avoid GMOs as much as possible by growing as much of my own food as I can.

[nolabear]

34. My father did that back about 1970. Military.

It put him in bed for days. In my mind he was instantly old. I can't believe people wouldn't do all they can to keep them. If they can't I understand but a shocking number just do it.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

36. There's a renthouse across the street from me.

At one time a guy lived there who said he was a Juggalo (complete with identifying ankle tat) and wore Hatchet Man T-shirts. I had to look that up on the internet.

Said he hadn't brushed his teeth in 15 years. He was probably between 20 and 25 years old. This is in rural Texas.

[nomorenomore08]

42. 15 years??? I pity anyone coming in close contact with the guy...

[shanti]

60. yikes~!

safe to say, he doesn't get kissed.

[Major Hogwash]

39. They've been told countless times they deserve what they get in life, and there is no alternative.

Believing that they are solely responsible for all of the ills that have befallen them, they struggle on, in silence, thinking that they do not deserve good dental care, well-fitting dentures, or even partial dentures, because that is the way life is . . hard.

The ACA and preventive medicine will improve millions of peoples' lives in the near future.
The ACA will save lives, to be sure, but it will also make life itself much more livable for millions of other people who struggle on, in silence.

[questionseverything]

57. actually in illinois to pay for expanding medicaid

they cut way back on what adult dental services are covered

no surgical extractions, so in illinois if your teeth are so bad you need surgery you can die of the infection

now if you happen to live thru that phase and the infection eats your jaw away medicaid will pay the couple hundred thousand to replace your jaw....f***** stupid pols

[AllyCat]

40. Why are teeth and eyes not covered by medical insurance? Both are part of our bodies.

And they don't regenerate like hair and nails.

[tomm2thumbs]

41. good point -- when did it separate into 'other than general health' and why?

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

44. I wonder the same thing. It makes no sense. But I guess it's the cents not the sense that matters.

[LiberalArkie]

52. The dentists and the eye doctors have agreed as an organization to not offer

a discount to the paying company. That is what my dentist told me and that is why it is so expensive. I read once that dentist as a group have the highest income in the medical community.

[AllyCat]

55. Interesting. Guess that is why glasses aren't covered for us unless

We buy a policy that costs as much as the glasses and contacts. Medical insurance covers the refraction and any actual disease like a corneal ulcer, infection, or injury. But the rest we cover. Thankfully, it isn't too expensive for me. But the extra help our son has needed costs a fortune.

[Enthusiast]

47. Kicked and recommended!

[get the red out]

48. Probably the same here

I would imagine it's the same in rural Kentucky. The two dental schools in the state take mobile vans to eastern Kentucky to try to give care to people; but it's pitiful.

[jen63]

53. I'm in rural SE Ohio

A major problem that I see here is that Medicaid, at least HERE, won't pay for a crown, etc., but WILL pay for full mouth extraction and cheap dentures. I don't know the policies in other states. This is just flat wrong.

My son is the same with the deep fissures and even sported quite a few silver crowns on his baby molars. A lot has to do with education and preventative care, he had both, my mom was a "twice a year" gal and so was I, but genetics intervene sometimes. He was not raised on juice and soda. Didn't seem to have a taste for either and still doesn't. The juice thing was just totally out of hand when he was small (early to mid 90s). I wouldn't have given it to him anyway just out of protest!! He's 20 now and when we go to eat I still see him ordering "water, please", instead of soda. I wish I had his impulse control.

FWIW I hated the dentist as a kid, but love having my teeth cleaned now and still have the occasional nightmare about having my teeth pulled. The prevailing attitude here, though, amongst the poor especially, is "I can't wait to have all these damned teeth pulled". It's so sad to me that this is the only alternative. We'll have a few "free dentistry days", sponsored by local dentists, but they provide only a cleaning OR one extraction OR one filling. For most who need it, one of those things is only the tip of the iceburg if you want to keep your teeth.

Mouth and teeth/gum health are a major public health crisis, especially as the research tying it to overall body health continues to pour in.

[Grins]

54. Read the full article about these idiots esp Gilda Mountcastle

&quot Virginia Governor Terry) McAuliffe spoke to about 100 people in a tent waiting to see a dentist. Gilda Mountcastle, who’d been waiting for care since 5:30 a.m. Thursday, called out from the back of the crowd to say she would not have access to a dentist or eye doctor without the clinic. But she told a reporter afterward that she did not support Medicaid expansion, which she saw as a government handout.

“We’re hardworking, hillbilly mountain people. We’re too proud to beg and bum,” she said.

But not too proud to line up before dawn at 4AM with 1,500 of her fellow "hardworking, hillbilly mountain people" (before organizers started turning people away) for free dental and medical care at the "free" clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds every year.

Idiots.

[treestar]

58. And taking advantage of that charitable group is not a hand-out

She wouldn't know a hand-out if it hit her in the face.

If she's so hardworking, why doesn't she earn enough to go to the dentist? I hate the way these people internalize that. And just who does she think she is better than? People who "take" handouts but have dental care as a result. And what difference does it make whether it is the government or not. She's lucky RAM exists and is willing to help.

[BobbyBoring]

63. I was raised in VA

It seems there are 2 VAs. Northern which is very well off, and south which is dirt poor. You would think that a state that has personal property tax on top of all the other taxes could take better care of the less fortunate.

SICK!

[Quantess]

67. Yikess. How awful.

K & R