Poor struggling to find dental care in America
It is becoming increasingly difficult for poor people to find dental care in America, a retired dentist has revealed.
Dr Holly Schweiger, from the New Life Mission Clinic, said that poor people are being actively discriminated against in many areas of the country. Dr Schweiger, from Kamloops said that there were more than 80 dentists in the town; however, only two or three would treat those on welfare benefit, seniors on welfare and homeless people.
According to Dr Schweiger, poor patients struggle to find a dentist who is willing to treat them; even when they do find one, they are often told they have to wait weeks or even months for an appointment, by which time their condition could have become more advanced. Patients on welfare in the area have also claimed that they have been treated poorly by dentists and spoken to in an unpleasant manner.
Access to dental care is a huge problem in the USA, with many struggling to find a dentist and millions of people unable to afford treatment. The number of people without dental insurance policies has also increased; without dental insurance the cost of dental treatment can be extremely high, making it almost impossible for people on a low or average wage to pay for treatment.
Dr Schweiger has written to minsters about changing dental policy to help the poor and is campaigning for better access to affordable dental care for those in need.
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