I have always been scared of going to the dentist. Of course I am not alone in that department. Who likes a perfect stranger sticking their fingers and other nasty things in their mouth? You would have to be a bit odd wouldn't you?
I once went for almost two weeks with and abscessed tooth, enduring dreadful toothache rather than endure a few seconds pain at the dentist. Yep, I know, stupid really, but at the time and up until today I didn't realise how stupid and dangerous my actions were.
Today I visited the Daytona Daily News site and the first thing that jumped off the page at me was 12-year-old Deamonte Driver of Maryland died last year following an untreated toothache. This article entitled Will a Child's Death Change Dental Policy made me realise the risks we are all taking when we avoid going to the dentist. It also made me realise that some people, especially disadvantaged children in some US states, are unable to access the dental care that is vital to their health due to the short comings in the state-federal health insurance program that only funds around 50% of what dentists charge.
If you would like to read this article you will find it at Daytona Daily News. I am sure it will open your eyes to how hard some people in our affluent societies are really doing it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment