For the past three years, the Seattle Center Foundation and thousands of compassionate volunteers have transformed KeyArena into the Seattle/King County Clinic: a massive popup clinic, providing dental, medical and vision care for thousands of people in need of treatment.
Oral health care has been the most requested service at the four-day clinics, with people traveling throughout the state and lining up for hours to receive care they might not otherwise receive.
Many of the Clinic’s oral health patients have Apple Health coverage, our state’s Medicaid program, but are left with few options due in large part to limited dental care access. In fact, 77 percent of adults with Apple Health coverage did not receive dental care in 2015.
Please urge Olympia lawmakers to support efforts to expand dental care access for those who need it most. Smart investments in dental care, including the Oral Health Connections pilot program, have the potential to improve oral and overall health.
To learn more about the dental access issue, please check out our short film from the 2015 Seattle/King County Clinic.
Oral Health Watch
5 hours ago
#DYK tooth decay is largely preventable? Proven-effective strategies like access to regular dental visits, brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily, and community water fluoridation can help kids and adults avoid the physical discomfort and burdensome cost of cavities. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
10 hours ago
#DYK tooth decay is largely preventable? Proven-effective strategies like access to regular dental visits, brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily, and community water fluoridation can help kids and adults avoid the physical discomfort and burdensome cost of cavities. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
11 hours ago
Thank you, Arcora Foundation, Delta Dental of Washington, Seattle Children's, and caring volunteer providers for making the SmileMobile possible. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
11 hours ago
💯 Arcora Foundation. Oral health care needs don't go away just because coverage does. The estimated 250,000 Washingtonians in need of dental care to either pay out of pocket, delay preventive care and/or forego necessary dental treatment, leading to:
🤒 Needless pain and suffering
... 💵 Burdening patients with costly care
🏥 Straining hospital emergency departments and our health care system
💪 Compromising individual and community health
#teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 days ago
Is it important for both parents and kids to have access to preventive oral health care? 💯 Parents who model good oral health habits make it more likely for children to adopt these practices from a young age. This proactive approach can help prevent future dental problems, missed school days due... to pain, and potential long-term health issues. #teethmatter
Oral Health Watch
1 days ago
Is it important for both parents and kids to have access to preventive oral health care? 💯 Parents who model good oral health habits make it more likely for children to adopt these practices from a young age. This proactive approach can help prevent future dental problems, missed school days due... to pain, and potential long-term health issues. #teethmatter