The researchers examined data from a 2008 survey of older Americans who either did or did not have dental insurance. They also looked at individual characteristics such as race, gender, marital status, age and health.Yes, well if you told them it would reduce their chance of heart attack and stroke and dementia, maybe they would think that was important...
Their conclusion: Providing dental coverage to those without insurance who generally don't seek dental care does not necessarily improve the likelihood that they will see a dentist.
And maybe if your hygiene and procedure recommendations were reality based and prevented dental problems, people would listen to you.
Low income people with bad teeth believe dentists are just another source of pain, and basically a cosmetic and low priority expense. Even if they do have insurance- lots of dental work means those copays and deductibles add up to real money, you know.
