WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Georgia recently approved an $11 million increase in dental benefits for the state's Medicaid recipients, but numbers from the CDC show Georgia is below the national average for adults having access to dental care.
Curtis Hayslip, dentist for Hayslip Family Dentistry, said he knows not all insurance plans cover dental treatment. Hayslip Family Dentistry put a pause on its annual free dental day clinic when COVID-19 hit, now they're bringing it back, Friday, Sept. 20.
"Teeth are like ignored when it comes to insurance," Hayslip said.
Hayslip said without insurance, visits to the dentist can be pricey, since dental work costs have increased.
"I like to ask all the time why in 1960's, insurance came out with $1,000," Hayslip said. "I think they had a $1,000 coverage then and here it is 2024 and most of the insurance still have $1,000 coverage here but a crown was $100 back then and now it's $1,200."
He said though rising costs may seem intimidating, neglecting oral health is terrifying, adding he's excited to provide the services needed for anyone, at no cost.
"If you don't get your dental care fixed, that's dangerous," Hayslip said. "You can actually die from abscesses; a lot of people walking around with pain, they're just not themselves when they're hurting. To me, I can't stand to see somebody hurting."
Hayslip says they'll have three hygienists Friday, providing cleanings, filings and extractions. They plan for each patient check-up to last 30 minutes. Hayslip Family Dentistry is partnering with Central Georgia Technical College student hygienists and dental assistants.
"They're gonna do health histories on them, make sure they're healthy enough to do the dentistry and give them a number and then they're gonna come back in order," he said.
According to a state report from Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, Georgia has one of the nation's lowest rate of dentists for it's population. A little over 20 counties, with nearly 200,000 people didn't have a single dentist. Hayslip said he hopes he'll have more volunteer dentists at next year's event, but is focused on brightening as many smiles as he can, he adds.
"My goal is to see as many as I can and I did tell him to take a list of some maybe 20 that we don't see the next 20 try and get them in when I have openings during the week, the following month, you know," he said.
Hayslip says there will be several vendors in attendance, along with food and law enforcement presence.
Free Dental Day will last from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hayslip said he encourages early arrival; services will be first come, first serve. Parking will be available at Oakland Baptist Church.