THE SOLUTION

Illinois has among the lowest funding rates in the nation for critical dental procedures.

Realizing that Illinois continues to face serious fiscal challenges, the Bridge to Healthy Smiles Campaign supports the following solutions as a first step to closing the oral health care gap.

Increase Specialty Rates: We are asking the state to increase funding levels for specialty care. Dentists who perform specialty care procedures practice in a unique field requiring additional specialized skills and training. There are about 65 specialty care procedures ranging from the treatment for root canals and gum disease to the extraction of wisdom teeth and reconstructive surgeries. In many cases, patients are unable to receive care until their problems become severe and they can no longer take the pain. Public aid patients often experience up to a six-month wait to see a dentist and have to travel long distances (up to four hours) to the nearest treatment. On average, funding levels for specialty dental care cover less than 1/3 of the cost of treatment.

Open Dental Clinics: We will partner with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Cook County Board to open dental clinics, which are critical to serve as a primary source of health care for residents in underserved areas. These clinics should offer comprehensive dental services, providing accessible and quality dental treatment that local residents need and deserve. They will help relieve an overwhelmed health care system, address the epidemic of childhood dental disease, and help to ensure improved overall health. It is estimated that each full time clinic will provide seven new jobs and serve 5,000 patients annually.

Establishing a Dental Home Program: We propose that an incentive program be developed that will reward dentists who are enrolled as a “dental home.” A dental home is where each child’s oral health care is delivered in a comprehensive, continuously accessible, coordinated and family-centered way by a licensed dentist. This concept ensures the proper delivery of oral health care to all children. It enhances the provider’s ability to assist children and their parents in their mission to find the best preventive care and treatment as part of an overall oral health care foundation.

This chart illustrates that Illinois’ average funding rate for the five most common specialty care procedures (90 percent of all specialty care procedures) covers just 16 percent of the procedure cost. Studies show a direct relationship between reasonable funding rates and improved utilization.