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STATE HOUSE

Proposals seek dental care for youngest

Some insurance companies balk, but advocates say it will save money

BY ETHAN WILENSKY-LANFORD, Staff Writer

Last November, Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a pediatric dentist in Augusta and president of the Maine Dental Association, saw a 4-year-old patient for the first time in that child's life. The child's teeth had significant damage and needed five or six fillings, he said.

He asked the child's mother why she had waited so long to see him.

"She felt embarrassed," he said, "but she said the only reason that she didn't come sooner was because her insurance didn't allow it."

Maine law currently allows dental insurance companies to decide when to offer insurance to children. On Wednesday, the Insurance and Financial Services Committee heard arguments in favor of requiring companies that offer dental coverage in Maine to offer it to children from birth.

No one testified against the bill, though several insurer representatives expressed concerns about how it might affect their bottom lines.

"I think it is extremely important for the health of our children," said Rep. Alexander Cornell Du Houx, D-Brunswick, who co-sponsored the bill. "It clarifies the message. By allowing enrollment at birth, it educates parents that it is important for the health of the child, rather than sending the message that you should wait until age 4."

Shenkin said early visits to the dentist are important to teach parents how to care for their children's teeth and to provide counseling about nutrition. The American Dental Association recommends children should visit a dentist within six months of their first tooth, and not later than their first birthday.

"When children are seen early, by age 1, we can reduce costs by 50 percent by age 4 or 5 years of age," Shenkin said.

The leading dental insurer in Maine, Northeast Delta Dental, supports the bill.

"The earlier kids get dental attention, the better off we all are," said the company's lobbyist, Chris O'Neil.

But representatives from several other insurance companies were concerned that allowing several windows for families to enroll children into their dental plans -- such as one O'Neil proposed, 30 days either side of a child's second birthday -- could cost them money, because more people would opt in when their children needed expensive care.

Dental disease is one of the leading reasons for people to go to emergency rooms in the state, and in 2006 was the leading reason for young adults.

According to a report released last month on emergency room visits, the Department of Health and Human Services helped finance 12,000 Mainers who are uninsured or covered by MaineCare in visits to emergency rooms each year at a public cost of $6 million.

Two other bills that supporters say will drastically improve rural and childhood dental care in the state have advanced to the House so far this year, with one of those already becoming law.

L.D. 1520, which was signed by Gov. John Baldacci earlier this month, will make it easier for young dentists to come to the state as dentistry residents.

"We hope that some of them will stay," said Rep. Richard Blanchard, D-Old Town, who sponsored the bill.

Another bill currently being considered in the House would lift restrictions on MaineCare payments to dental hygienists acting independently, potentially expanding the network of dental care in rural Maine.

Dental hygienists have only been allowed to work independently of dentists for a few years, and by law can only perform preventative care.

This bil, L.D. 233, is estimated to cost Maine taxpayers up to $234,000 annually by 2012. It is now awaiting action in the Senate.

Ethan Wilensky-Lanford - 620-7016

ewlanford@mainetoday.com