SPECIALTY DENTAL CARE

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 raising funding levels for specialty dental treatment as a first step to closing the oral health care gap.

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.

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.

We are asking the state to invest $28 million dollars to increase funding levels for specialty care. This minimal investment will not be enough to close the funding shortage gap but it will be enough to cover the procedure cost which will greatly improve access to care. With the federal government match of 50 percent, Illinois’ investment will total $14 million annually. Specialty care is not a luxury, it is a medical necessity.

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.