More than a beautiful smile
August 2020
Many of us take dental care for granted. But for those in financial need, a visit to the dentist’s office is often out of reach.
The Blessing Foundation helps patients in need pay for dentistry, often alleviating intense pain and preventing serious medical conditions.
When Karen Crook was diagnosed with multiple myeloma earlier this year, she had to get clearance from a dentist before she could start her cancer-fighting medications. It’s a common requirement to identify and eliminate any potential sources of infection.
A dental exam revealed that Karen had two teeth causing nerve damage and another tooth causing pain. All three had to be pulled. But Karen, who has endured multiple health issues and financial strain, couldn’t afford the cost of the extraction.
Poor oral health can lead to serious medical issues
“We see a lot of patients who neglect dental care,” said Sarah Roman, a former social services caseworker for Outpatient Care Coordination at Blessing Health System. “Either insurance won’t cover it or it’s too costly. We see a lot with our cancer patients and the dental piece becomes the last priority.”
Neglecting dental care can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and other serious health issues, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, and dementia. In cases like Karen’s, it can delay life-saving cardiovascular or cancer treatment.
“We get a lot of cancer patients who need to have dental clearance to start a new medication for their cancer treatment,” Roman said. “We see a lot of tooth pain, abscesses, and a lot of neglect. And with dental issues like that, it is intense pain.”
Blessing’s care coordinators work within the community to help patients get the dental care they so desperately need. Blessing often partners with local dentists and the SIU Adams County Dental Clinic. When all community resources have been exhausted and patients can’t afford care, the Blessing Foundation is contacted for help.
“Resources get limited, especially during the pandemic,” Roman said. “We’re blessed that people give to the Blessing Foundation and we’re able to tap into those resources. There are many things we couldn’t do without having the Foundation in place. We’d have so many people going without much-needed assistance”
“Without the help from Blessing Foundation donors, we just couldn’t do it,” Roman said. “We couldn’t get them the treatment that would give them a better quality of life. We’re very fortunate that we have such a giving community.”
