Arkansas, Louisiana and West Virginia were recently ranked among the worst states for dental health in the U.S.
Dentaly, an oral health information site, evaluated states based on 12 metrics to create the ranking. These metrics relied on data from various sources, including the CDC and the U.S. Census Bureau, and included alcohol and sugar consumption, fluoride usage, dentist supply and oral health conditions.
Here is how dental care is evolving in these three states this year through dental school initiatives, legislation, DSO activity and new practices:
Arkansas
1. Batesville, Ark.-based Lyon College broke ground on the state's first dental school earlier this year. The Lyon College School of Dental Medicine will be located in Little Rock's Riverdale neighborhood and will include an on-site clinic. The inaugural class will be 80 students.
2. Sacramento, Calif.-based Straine Dental Management entered its 13th state by affiliating with a practice in Arkansas.
Louisiana
1. Louisiana passed Senate Bill 463, which requires insurers to file a dental loss ratio report each year. The information will be made available on the state’s Department of Insurance website. Among the information provided by the insurer is the number of enrollees in their plans, the plan cost-sharing figures, deductible amounts, annual maximum coverage limits and the number of enrollees who meet or exceed the annual coverage limits.
2. Lafayette (La.) Oral Surgery was granted a permit to build a $2.7 million office. Lafayette Oral Surgery is led by Clay Steven Chandler, DDS, MD, and Brian Kelley, DDS, MD.
3. Effingham, Ill.-based Heartland Dental partnered with James Crouch, DDS, who owns an office in Kenner, La.
4. Henderson, Nev.-based PDS Health partnered with Endo Health Group, which provides endodontic services in Georgia and Louisiana.
West Virginia
1. Margaret Conde, DDS, opened Conde Family Dental in Buckhannon, W.V.
2. Bridgeport (W.Va.) Family Dentistry, led by Samantha Jette, DDS, reopened in a new 4,000-square-foot office featuring 10 treatment rooms.
3. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill that expands the state's Medicaid dental coverage cap from $1,000 to $2,000 over two years.
4. Morrisville, N.C.-based Affordable Care opened an Affordable Dentures & Implants office in Parkersburg, W.V.
5. Dallas-based MB2 Dental partnered with its first dental practice in West Virginia, marking the 40th state it supports locations in.