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In reply to the discussion: "what's wrong with the idea of including dental care in a national health care system...? [View all]raging moderate
(4,304 posts)I love the details, the organization of ideas, and the constructive suggestions. Hopefully, this idea will catch fire and lead to an eventual addition of dental services to the Affordable Health Care Act.
One of my most painful childhood memories will always be my little brother crying in the nights because of a toothache my underpaid working mother could not afford to get fixed. Our hardworking mother somehow managed to gradually increase her earnings a little, and many kind people helped us. Years later, we both managed to get into college on a shoestring, but he had to quit college with a nervous breakdown which turned out to be permanent mental illness. I will always wonder if he might have made it without that persistent toothache added to the almost unbearable struggles our whole family had undergone. It may sound silly, but I know we used to marvel privately at the complaints of our schoolmates when they HAD to go to the dentist. And my brother died early of heart disease. Did you know that severe tooth decay has been linked to that?
You dentists and dental technicians who go into schools and other places to give free services to poor kids and adults are ministering angels in disguise. May your hearts be blessed forever!
Mr. Romney, you are a false king, but may you prove, in this idea, to be a true prophet! Come to think of it, that Republican R Squiggle logo DOES look like a squirt of toothpaste, doesn't it?