skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Some South Dakota farmers are unhappy with industrial ag getting conservation funds; Texas judge allows abortion in Cox case; Native tribes express concern over Nevada's clean energy projects.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Colorado Supreme Court weighs barring Trump from office, Georgia Republicans may be defying a federal judge with a Congressional map splitting a Black majority district and fake electors in Wisconsin finally agree Biden won there in 2020.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Texas welcomes more visitors near Big Bend but locals worry the water won't last, those dependent on Colorado's Dolores River fear the same but have found common ground solutions, and a new film highlights historical healthcare challenges in rural Appalachia.

NM Remains Slow in Closing Dental Care Equity Gap

play audio
Play

Thursday, July 27, 2023   

Dental care is vital to overall health, but finding and affording services is a challenge in many states - including New Mexico.

Dental therapists, trained in local colleges and working under the supervision of dentists, have been shown to fill the gap in oral health needs.

That led New Mexico lawmakers to pass legislation in 2019, establishing the profession of Dental Therapist.

But Barbara Webber - executive director of Health Access New Mexico - said implementation has been slow, and too many rural, tribal and underserved urban New Mexicans go without care.

"We have parents talking about, 'I will get oral health care for my children, but I can't afford it for myself,'" said Webber. "So, they'll have all kinds of issues in their mouth that lead to infection and lead to lots of problems."

The results of poor oral health in adults puts them at risk for other complications, including heart disease.

Health Access New Mexico says hundreds of thousands of state residents live in areas without enough dentists and more than a quarter of elementary school children have untreated tooth decay.

Frank Catalanotto, a board member with the National Coalition of Dentists for Health Equity, said geography is a big factor in whether folks can access services.

"We've got lots of people in rural areas of this country," said Catalanotto, "where there are not enough dentists."

Webber said nearly half the population of New Mexico is on Medicaid, which many dentists don't accept. So even when folks know they have gum disease, some don't seek treatment.

"We did a poll two years ago," said Webber. "Forty-four percent of people reported that in the last year they did not fill a prescription or they were skipping medications due to cost, and that's twice the national average."

Southeastern and southwestern states have higher levels of periodontal disease, including New Mexico.



Disclosure: National Coalition of Dentists for Health Equity contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Toy drive organizers say books are a good donation approach for toy drives because a set of three can count as one whole gift as part of the toy limit for each child. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Christmas is a little more than two weeks away, and toy drives around the country are in full swing. A North Dakota organizer shares some things to …


Social Issues

play sound

A federal judge in Nevada has dealt three tribal nations a legal setback in their efforts to stop what could be the construction of the country's larg…

Environment

play sound

Hoosiers could get their holiday trees from any of about 200 tree farms in the state, according to the Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association…


A new KFF analysis of government data estimates nearly 1 in 10 adults - 9%, or roughly 23 million people - owe medical debt. This includes 11 million who owe more than $2,000 and 3 million people who owe more than $10,000. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Reports from the Insurance Commissioner's office and the state Attorney General reveal an analysis of what they call "the true costs of health care" i…

Environment

play sound

Connecticut lawmakers are reluctant to approve new emission standards that would require 90% cleaner emissions from internal-combustion engines and re…

The Peterbilt 520 EV, a fully electric garbage truck, made a test run in Portland, Ore., on Nov. 11, 2023. (scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

While lawmakers and environmental groups strive to lower vehicle emissions and the nation's carbon footprint, many truckers see unrealistic …

Social Issues

play sound

Another controversial move in Florida's education system is a proposal to drop sociology, the study of social life and the causes and consequences of …

Social Issues

play sound

There are at least three victims after a shooting incident that happened at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on Wednesday. By afternoon…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021