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WDA Dental Academy
- WDA Dental Academy
- WDA overview
- Oral health is critical to overall health
- Dentists: Doctors of oral health
- Dental education in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin's dental work force
- Uniqueness of dentistry when compared to medicine
- Wisconsin dental Medicaid
- Solutions for reducing barriers to dental care
- Private practice dentists and Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Charity care: A stop-gap measure of help
Twenty-three state legislators and 16 legislative staffers were among 61 people in attendance at the first WDA Dental Academy on Jan. 19, 2011 at the Concourse Hotel in Madison.
The two-hour “Dental 101” seminar offered an understanding of basic oral health issues and terminology and explained the importance of oral health to constituents’ overall well-being.
It also introduced policymakers to the 2,900-member professional dental organization as this state’s leading advocate for quality oral health care for all residents.
Click on each photo within the slideshow to read a caption and to download high-res photos on Flickr.
What is the Wisconsin Dental Association?
Oral health is critical to overall health
Studies show poor oral health may be linked to other health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pre-term childbirth and oral cancer. Ensuring all Wisconsin residents have proper dental care is important to our state economically and socially.
Very young children are especially vulnerable to dental disease. Baby tooth decay is a serious disease that can spread quickly. However, early childhood caries (cavities) are preventable. The WDA’s new public awareness campaign tells why baby teeth matter.
Dentists: Doctors of oral health
Dentists generally must complete four years of undergraduate education, plus four years of dental school to obtain a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree – a key component in applying for state licensure.
Dentistry is composed of approximately 22 percent specialists and 78 percent general dentists, compared to medicine where nearly 80 percent of physicians specialize.
The American Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialties. All require additional training beyond the eight years of undergraduate and doctor of oral health education.
Dental school is a demanding curriculum and admission is very competitive.
In March 2010, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' Dental Advisory Committee released its final report analyzing ways the state could invest in dental education and improve access or oral health care in rural and underserved areas.
Marquette University School of Dentistry
MUSOD, located near downtown Milwaukee, is Wisconsin’s only dental school. It has a reputation for graduating quality dentists and has been the chief supplier of dentists for our state since 1894.
Currently, 61 percent of all practicing dentists in Wisconsin are MUSOD graduates.
Economic engine and 2020 forecast
In January 2010, the “Supply and Demand for Dental Services: Wisconsin 2010 – 2020” study by University of Connecticut researchers Howard Bailit, D.M.D., Ph.D., and Tryfon Beazoglou, Ph.D. was issued indicating Wisconsin currently has enough dentists to meet the economic demand for access to quality dental services.
Demand is defined as the ability of a patient to purchase services from a private-practicing dentist.
The number of actively-practicing dentists in Wisconsin increased from 2,979 in 2000 to 3,142 in 2009. By 2020, this number is expected to rise to 3,353 – five dentists shy of what researchers say will be required to meet dental demand.
The number of licensed dentists in our state exceeds 3,142, because some maintain a Wisconsin license while actively practicing in another state or are retired and maintain their licenses so they can volunteer or fill in at practices.
Dentistry's economic impact on Wisconsin is currently estimated at $2 billion.
Uniqueness of dentistry when compared to medicine
What is the difference between medical and dental insurance? Dentistry, unlike medicine, is more dependent on patients’ discretionary income.
Nearly 44 percent of all dental care is an “out-of-pocket” expense for patients. Those who do have dental benefits have very limited coverage. Dental coverage is a prepaid, defined benefit.
Unlike medical insurance, dental benefit companies do not assume unknown financial risks. Rather, the maximum benefit is usually limited to just $500 - $1,200 annually with additional costs absorbed by the patient.
Medicaid in Wisconsin provides coverage for adults and children who are in poverty.
Note: Medicare is the program for the elderly (regardless of income level) and it currently includes no significant dental care coverage. Most elderly pay for their dental care out of pocket unless they are poor enough to qualify for Medicaid.
Learn more about Wisconsin’s dental Medicaid program.
Solutions for reducing barriers to dental care
The WDA believes barriers to dental care can be reduced when policymakers and dentists work together on positive, viable “Healthy Choices” for all state residents. Ensuring residents have good oral health saves patients from dental pain and infection and is economically and socially important to our state.
Learn more about the WDA’s proposed legislative “Healthy Choices”.
Private practice dentists and Federally Qualified Health Centers
The WDA supports FQHCs as a true safety net for patients facing economic barriers to care in this state.
Substantially fewer dentists work in the FQHC model than work in private practice. The number of full and part-time dentists in FQHCs is between 50 and 100, while the number of dentists in private practice is around 3,000.
Similarly, there are private practice dentists in all 72 Wisconsin counties, while FQHC dental clinics exist in only 23 counties.
Charity care: A stop-gap measure of help
Wisconsin dentists provide, on average, $10,000-$12,000 in charity care each year. This is in addition to the time, resources and funding they donate to organized events like “Give Kids a Smile,” the WDA Mission of Mercy, the WDA Foundation’s Donated Dental Services program or the state’s dental MA program.
The WDA provides a listing of all reduced-rate dental clinics in the state that we learn about as a public service. This list is updated annually and can be viewed here. These are not WDA clinics, but many of our member dentists donate their time and services to these local charitable clinics.
Charity care events, like MOM are a huge administrative undertaking, very expensive and an inefficient way to deliver dental care. These stop-gap measures only help to get people out of immediate pain and infection, while helping raise awareness about the importance of oral health to overall well-being and the need to prioritize dental care in our state.