The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is treating more Medicaid patients from private dental practices, according to an Oct. 22 report by The Daily Iowan.
The school is one of the top providers of specialty dental care in the state, including oral and maxillofacial surgery, root canals, oral facial pains and pediatric dentistry.
Private practices in Iowa are continuing to treat current Medicaid patients, but are not taking on new Medicaid patients. This causes a gap in dental care, as Iowa added 13,351 new Medicaid members in 2023.
More patients seeking treatment at the university is a positive for dental students, as by the end of their first year they are completing surgical treatments and gaining experience treating patients under faculty supervision.
The dental school has not had to turn Medicaid patients away, but the influx has created a longer waiting list for individuals to receive care, the report said.