Ethan, age 3
Modoc County
Ethan has serious cavities in his front teeth and needs treatment soon. In fact, the cavities are so bad that he needs oral surgery. Ethan is enrolled in Medi-Cal dental coverage, and the nearest oral surgeon that accepts Ethan’s Medi-Cal is 8 hours away. Getting him to the appointment presents many problems for his parents, Caroyln and Jake Loughry.
For regular check-ups, Carolyn takes her son to a dentist 20 miles away from their home in Alturas, California. “There are three dentists right here in town, but none of them take Medi-Cal,” she said.
Several months ago, Ethan’s dentist said that oral surgery was needed to treat his front teeth. The dental office referred Ethan to an oral surgeon in Stockton, an 8-hour drive away. “I asked them if there was someone else, but they said that no one closer takes Medi-Cal,” she said. There is an oral surgeon in Susanville, 90 minutes away, and Redding, about two hours away, but neither office accepts Medi-Cal.
Carolyn is a stay-at-home mom, caring for Ethan, who has spina bifida, and his 1-year-old sister, Elizabeth. Jake works on a ranch. Ethan is unable to walk due to the spina bifida, requiring Carolyn’s husband to help with the trip. “To get Ethan to the dentist means that my husband has to take three days off work. He’s been harvesting, and it’s hay season right now; he just can’t take that much time off work,” she explained. “Then there’s the gas and motel room. It’s a big burden to travel that far, and it’s a huge financial impact for us. He’s needed the treatment for two months now, but we just haven’t been able to afford the trip.”
Carolyn is thankful for the insurance coverage provided by Medi-Cal. “I just wish there were more dentists who accept Medi-Cal,” she said. “We’re saving money out of every paycheck to pay for the trip. We’re hoping next month my husband will be able to take the time off, and I think we’ll be able to afford the trip.” Currently, Ethan’s teeth are sensitive to cold, but he is not in pain. “I’m worried that his situation will get worse quickly,” Carolyn said. “We need to get him to the dentist soon.”
This Brief provides an overview of the challenges faced by California's children and their families in obtaining necessary dental care and outlines a workforce innovation designed to bridge the supply gap between existing providers and California's most vulnerable children. This Brief also provides a proposal for action, laying out a practical solution to help California's state and community leaders ensure children get the dental care they need and to make real the promise of health care reform.