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Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

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The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Ohio's Dental Drama: The ER Not the Best Place for Care

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011   

COLUMBUS, Ohio - More and more Ohio emergency rooms are treating patients who show up suffering from broken or infected teeth, but who don't have access to regular dental care.

The executive director of the CincySmiles Foundation, Dr. Larry Hill, says not only is emergency room care expensive, it typically doesn't resolve the dental issue.

"Usually, the physicians in the emergency room wind up providing pain medications and antibiotics. But they can't address the actual source of the dental problem, because physicians aren't trained to do that."

Dr. Hill says improving access to dental care has not been a legislative priority. He believes it's because many people don't realize that dental care is an essential part of a person's overall health.

"'The hand bone is connected to the wrist bone,' and the oral cavity is part of the rest of the body. It has the same blood system, the same nervous system, and the same system that carries infection; and so, when people have oral infections, they're putting their general health at tremendous risk."

He says expanding access to care would reduce emergency room visits, which cost on average $140 apiece. He suggests more dental care teams should include mid-level providers. These dental therapists are trained to provide routine care, fill cavities and perform some extractions.

Critics have charged that dental therapists are under-trained, but Hill disagrees. He says they actually have more clinical experience in their scope of services than a dental school graduate.

"These folks definitely get more training, more supervision, more constant and ongoing oversight once they've graduated, than dentists receive."

The federal government says there are 59 areas of Ohio with a shortage of dental care providers.


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