Scottsdale, Ariz. -- The Arizona Dental Association (AzDA) has grave concerns about a proposed cut in oral health care for the state’s most vulnerable citizens. In an effort to help balance the state’s budget, the Governor’s Office and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) are asking state lawmakers to eliminate the Adult Emergency Dental Benefit.

The benefit is currently limited to emergency root canal treatment on front teeth and to emergency extractions. More than 400,000 active adult acute care and Adult Long Term Care System (ALTCS) AHCCCS members will lose access to dental services if this benefit is cut.

"Elimination of this dental care benefit will hurt people and cost the state more money in the long run," said Kevin Earle, executive director of the Arizona Dental Association. "Patients will be forced to seek costly critical care in emergency rooms for situations that could have been easily prevented through the Adult Emergency Dental Benefit. An untreated dental infection can lead to serious medical problems and is a major factor in the onset of life-threatening conditions."

The Arizona Dental Association is warning that the elimination of this benefit will shift costs and significant expenses to hospital emergency rooms, to private non-AHCCCS providers and to community health centers – further exacerbating the state’s current budget deficit. In addition, the failure to effectively treat a dental infection can lead to severe medical complications, aggravating underlying medical conditions, and may in some cases lead to death.

"The Arizona Dental Association is a strong proponent that state policies should help create healthy citizens, not take away important health benefits such as the Adult Emergency Dental Benefit, which actually saves the taxpayers millions of dollars that would be spent on more expensive, but less effective emergency room care," said Dr. Donald Simpson, president of the Arizona Dental Association. "Every Arizonan – both adults and children – should have the ability to establish a ‘dental home’ and receive regular checkups for good oral health."