Michigan needs dentists for people with disabilities

From the Daily Tribune:

More dental professionals in Michigan are needed to treat people with disabilities said a local periodontist who volunteered to provide dental care for a man with a disability last Thursday in Novi.

Dr. Steve Wolf is the co-founder and spokesman for the Adopt a Smile Dental Program of the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, a nonprofit, human services agency that serves 5,500 people with disabilities.

“The Medicaid dental care budget cuts have been devastating,” said Wolf.

“Many people are suffering and we, as dental professionals, need to help out.”

Through Adopt a Smile, MORC is seeking dental professionals in Oakland and Macomb counties willing to provide free dental care or to “adopt” a person with dental needs.

Wolf treated Dale, 50, of Southfield, who needs dental care, extensive periodontal work and tooth replacement.

Dr. Kelly Giera, a dentist from Southfield, has volunteered to team up with Wolf to provide Dale’s restorative dentistry.

Like many people with disabilities in Michigan, Dale has serious dental problems and has been without care for several years.

Michigan cut the Medicaid dental care budget in July of 2009 affecting over 1.8 million people. Many people with disabilities remain unable to afford the dental care they need. Since the cuts, people are eligible to receive only emergency care for abscesses or extractions.

The recent report released by the Michigan Dental Association states that the budget cuts are beginning to take a toll on the health of children and adults. Untreated dental disease can lead to diabetes, heart disease and cancer. One local dentist discovered oral cancer in a woman served by MORC, which ended up saving her life.

“The state cut the dental budget from October of 2003 to October of 2005 and our folks are still suffering from that,” said Mary Jo Hollebrands, MORC nursing supervisor. “We still have people losing all their teeth and we had some people die.

“We appreciate the kindness of dental professionals who have come forward to treat people,” Hollebrands added. “And we hope that our leaders restore our Medicaid dental funding.”

Dental professionals willing to volunteer to provide dental care for a person with a disability with dental needs in their area can call Mary Jo Hollebrands at MORC at (586) 263-8769.

MORC, with offices in Clinton Township and Auburn Hills, supports 5,500 people with disabilities in their family homes, personal residences, group homes and foster and adoptive families as well as in vocational and school settings.

Close to 120 teams, and thousands of walkers have either signed up online or have said they are participating.