Posted on Mon, May. 11, 2009

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Donald L. Beggs: Raise the grade for oral health care

BY DONALD L. BEGGS

Kansas rates a D-minus for access to dental care based on the availability of oral health professionals, according to the recently released 2009 Oral Health Report Card issued by Oral Health America.

In the same report, the state rates lower -- an F -- when it comes to the 20 percent of counties that do not have a Medicaid-enrolled dentist. Consequently, oral disease, which diminishes the quality of life by restricting activities in school, work and home, will affect more and more Kansans.

In response to this, I am pleased to announce that the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program at Wichita State University is scheduled to begin this fall. After five years of collaborative effort with local individuals and organizations, we believe this is the right program for WSU. Despite the economy, this is the time to forge ahead.

Within the next two years, WSU plans to open a facility that will exclusively house the AEGD program and be the primary first-year clinical site. Residents will complete training at the clinic before rotating to underserved community and rural health sites. This building is necessary to recruit residents to the state.

Information from the federal government's Health Resources and Service Administration affirms that the cities of Wichita and Topeka, along with 92 out of the 105 Kansas counties, are designated as Health Professions Shortage Areas for dentistry. Kansas has only about 36 dentists per 100,000 residents -- 33 percent below the national average. That number will decrease, as hundreds of dentists approaching retirement do not have anyone in line to continue their practices.

Multiple studies show that many dentists practice where they train. It is anticipated that those residents who are recruited to Kansas for the AEGD program will work across the state building relationships with established oral health care professionals and clinics that provide care to the underserved, thus permanently increasing the state's oral health work force.

On behalf of Kansans, WSU has the opportunity to help address the state's troubling oral health care scenario. These times are tough, but we still must work for the future of Kansas. Important partners to date -- such as lead supporters Delta Dental of Kansas and the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation, with additional support from the Walter S. and Evan C. Jones Testamentary Trust in Emporia and the Wichita Community Foundation -- are committed to helping us house the program properly in Wichita.

WSU and the WSU Foundation are working together to make this planned effort a reality in order to improve access to oral health care for all Kansans.

Donald L. Beggs is president of Wichita State University.

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