When money is tight, it seems easy to let some things go. Dental care seems to be one of those things. Because it doesn't appear as critical unless there's a problem, and dental care is expensive--especially without insurance--a visit to the dentist may elude some people for years.
The Arizona Department of Health Services provided the following statistics about Arizona's oral health to the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health in Mesa:
Arizonans have a higher rate of oral disease than the national average. Both Arizona children and seniors are part of the growing underserved indicated by alarming statistics including:
- 31% of Arizona children have never had a dental check-up
- 43% of Arizona children ages 6 to 8 have untreated tooth decay, compared to the 31% national average
- 65% of Arizona children between ages of 11 to 13 have had tooth decay
- 42% of Arizona seniors have bleeding gums and/or calculus present requiring professional care
Statistics provided as of 2003.
Dave Pratt Dental Clinic
Housed at the the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix in south central Phoenix, the Dave Pratt Dental Clinic provides dental care at very low cost to economically disadvantaged children aged 5 to 18 years who do not qualify for dental insurance. The Dave Pratt Dental Clinic is a full-service facility providing comprehensive oral examinations, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealant, fillings, extractions, root canals, and emergency treatments. The Clinic is open Tuesday through Friday. You can contact them for more information at 602-271-9961.A T Still University
Arizona's first dental school opened in 2003, citing the fact that there is a need to combat a future shortage of dentists; for every 3 dentists that retire, only 2 dentists enter the profession. In 2005, when the first students entered their third year, the school opened their dental clinic to allow the third and fourth year students a way to gain experience while providing a valuable community service.Anyone who does not have a comprised health condition (for example, unusually high blood pressure) qualifies for dental care. A visit with a student dentist costs about half what it would cost for a regular dental visit. Specific fees will be outlined for each patient prior to treatment. Licensed doctors and specialists perform x-rays, mouth examinations and review oral health history. Procedures are performed by 3rd and 4th year dental students under close supervision of licensed faculty dental specialists.
