(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dental hygienist Erika Castañeda performs dental cleaning at Project Homeless Connect, where the community volunteers to provide services to homeless individuals and families, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on Friday October 25. 2019.
You probably know that hospitals have to accept anyone who is destitute or on Medicaid, but did you know that poor, homeless, or needy people cannot get free dental care. Most, if not all, dentists do not accept Medicaid or provide free dental services.
As far as I know, the only free dental care in Salt Lake County is at the 4th Street Clinic downtown. The only catch is that there is obviously only one dentist available and it can take months to get an appointment.
Does anyone think our legislature or our members of Congress care about this? This is a real indictment against our health care system and it shows how much they care about the less fortunate among us. They receive free health care and dental insurance. Dental care is a necessity for everyone. Why is it not provided?
Marty Bernstein, Midvale
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