Dental Care: Share Your Story

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

When we talk about health care, what is often left out of the conversation is dental care. And, unfortunately, we have a major dental crisis in America.

Today:

• 91 million Americans do not have any dental insurance.
• Dental care is much too expensive and nearly half of the people who have dental insurance are still forced to skip appointments because they cannot afford it.
• More than 40% of children in America have tooth decay by the time they reach kindergarten.
• One out of five seniors in America are missing all their natural teeth and cannot afford a full set of dentures, which can cost many thousands of dollars.
• About half of our nation’s seniors have no dental insurance.
• Nearly half of adults have some form of periodontal disease, which makes them two to three times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event.

On top of all this, we don’t have enough dentists, hygienists, and dental therapists. And too many people who live in rural communities, in Vermont and across the country, are forced to choose between traveling long distances to see a dentist or not getting the care they need.

This is absolutely unacceptable.

In Vermont, we have made some progress on this issue, but much more must be done. As your Senator and as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), I am working hard to address this crisis. And I need your help.

It would be extremely helpful if YOU could describe your personal experiences with dental care. Have you ever been forced to skip a dentist appointment because you could not afford to go? Do you have a grandparent, parent, or child who is struggling to eat their food and can’t afford to get proper care? Have you ever needed to go to an Emergency Room to receive dental care because you were not able to go to a dentist? Have you ever traveled to another country to get dental care because it is too expensive at home?

I hope you will take a moment to CLICK HERE and share your story.

Sincerely,