Meth Mouth Eats Up Tax Dollars

Seems like virtually everyone living in Missouri has meth mouth! I've never seen so many disgusting mouths in all my life!

As a journalist, I'm interested in knowing more about this. Would you email me at tomgio@hotmail.com and slug the subject meth mouth?

Thanks

Such comments from dentists like yourself are one of the main reasons the condition goes untreated to the point of no repair. There is enough shame to be dealt with in having the addiction in the first place; but, to have overcome it & be left with an unshowable smile that hinders one's social life, career, etc...that is a shame you cannot imagine! And, fear of being looked down upon, like lesser of a human being, by one such as yourself... leave the judgment to the higher powers & stick to doing your job in a more professional, courteous, & understanding manner!

I agree wholeheartedly with recorvered addict! I too am recovered from my meth addiction(5yrs) and I still cannot find any compassion or understanding from dentists.All I seem to get is condescension and disdain. Addiction is a disease and we did not intentionally set out to destroy our teeth. Also there are no resources for those in recovery to help restore our mouths. Unless you are over 65 or disabled, you don't Qualify for most programs.

im a dentist wrote:

Seems like virtually everyone living in Missouri has meth mouth! I've never seen so many disgusting mouths in all my life!

I am a Missouri resident with white, straight, non-rotten teeth. I have health and dental insurance. I work at a job I am not in love with to make sure I have the insurance when I need it. Like the rest of the human population, I had my fair share partying days but responsibility loomed in front of me and I had to plan ahead. I can barely afford my own insurance, I really cant afford to pay for anyone elses mistakes too.

recovered addict wrote:

Such comments from dentists like yourself are one of the main reasons the condition goes untreated to the point of no repair. There is enough shame to be dealt with in having the addiction in the first place; but, to have overcome it & be left with an unshowable smile that hinders one's social life, career, etc...that is a shame you cannot imagine! And, fear of being looked down upon, like lesser of a human being, by one such as yourself... leave the judgment to the higher powers & stick to doing your job in a more professional, courteous, & understanding manner!

thank you for addressing the professionalism point in your quote.. it is so important to maintain professionalism at all times even when one is not in the operatory. Even when you think no one is listening or looking, someone is. Our jobs as health care providers is to help people with some sort of compassionate decorum, people know when they make mistakes or do something they shouldn't they don't need to hear it from their provider. All we need to do is help them to understand that what they do is detrimental and how to correct the mistake. Judgement is not ours to give. Care is what we are to provide.

thank you for addressing the professionalism point in your quote.. it is so important to maintain professionalism at all times even when one is not in the operatory. Even when you think no one is listening or looking, someone is. Our jobs as health care providers is to help people with some sort of compassionate decorum, people know when they make mistakes or do something they shouldn't they don't need to hear it from their provider. All we need to do is help them to understand that what they do is detrimental and how to correct the mistake. Judgement is not ours to give. Compassion and a smile will go a lot further with someone than ridicule.

Almost everyone has done something in thier life that they are not proud of, and we all have had someone in our lives that was quick to remind us of our mistakes. As a student i can assure you that i want to be the kind of provider that is concerned with solution and not problem. Attitude is the most important part of someone. Your attitude will ruin or make you. Just care for people the way you would like to be cared for. Give someone thier smile back without first taking it from them.

im a dentist wrote:

Seems like virtually everyone living in Missouri has meth mouth! I've never seen so many disgusting mouths in all my life!

how about instead of childish judgement you start a program or publish some educational materials to make people more aware of how they are hurting themselves. that should be your a goal. if mouths in missouri are so terrible..what, as a dentist, are you going to do to make it better?

dentstudent wrote:

Almost everyone has done something in thier life that they are not proud of, and we all have had someone in our lives that was quick to remind us of our mistakes. As a student i can assure you that i want to be the kind of provider that is concerned with solution and not problem. Attitude is the most important part of someone. Your attitude will ruin or make you. Just care for people the way you would like to be cared for. Give someone thier smile back without first taking it from them.

As long as I dont have to pay for everyone elses mistakes, I can barely pay for my own!:-)

you guys shouldnt done meth in the first place cause now look what it has done to you guys. you guys are seting bad examples for young adults inother words for teenagers. well any ways yall neeed to stop doing and selling it.

I have bad teeth and yes I did meth however my teeth were bad in the begining,the people that grow up in the country lack the floride in city water, and that is why most of us do have bad teeth. I want everyone to know that people that do meth are still people and all of us make mistakes, just think about when you are passing judgement that meth is still out there and it is possiable for your children or family to get on. It takes one time of doing to have a lifetime of missary. And at least we are trying to get our lives together,I understand that everyone has a hard time paying for insurance, but the damage to some teeth is life threating. Take into concideration that it was one of your family members being told that unless they get some dental care they could die. It happened to me (I have been clean for almost 5 year) and I had to see the look on my mother's face when I told her that I could die if I can't come up with $5,000 to get the work done that I needed. If you have time to pass judgement on people then you should have the time to come up with a solution, and to some of the dental students, and dentist, shame on you for talking about people, when you become a doctor regaurdless of what form you choose you are supposed to make people feel better not worse because of something done years before now.To the people willing to help keep up the good work, you may not hear it often but you are truely wonderful people to help out us so called poor people, I have tried to tell everyone that is younger than me to stay away from meth, and if there were more information on the affect that meth has on the mouth, maybe we could slow down the problem.

The Denturist Profession Can Help Save Meth Mouth Tax Dollars
September 13, 2007 Gary W. Vollan, L.D. www.wysda.org

Is it going to take the meth epidemic for our country to recognize the need for the denturist profession as a viable health care profession and it's ability to provide affordable denture care to recovering meth addicts and other segments of our society.

The denturist profession as a rule is a compassionate group of professionals that provide affordable denture care.

How much more difficult is an addicts recovery (self-esteem), without an oral prosthesis (denture) for replacement of extracted natural teeth due to meth chemicals and disease?

The American Dental Association and state dental associations continue to suppress the denturist profession across the nation, with the dentists monopolistic grip on dentures and their inflated pricing, leaving the edentulous, dentureless, and paying the denture lab technicians pennies, for a oral prosthesis (denture) that's worthy of artistic recognition.

Most denturist were denture lab technicians tired of not being paid by the dentist and having to do remakes at the denture technicians expense, due to error in impressions and the bite by the dentist or their assistant.

Denturist are educated, tested, qualified and licensed professionals; providing denture care directly to the public at affordable prices; usually averaging half of what dentists charge.

Denturist are regulated and licensed in seven states and across Canada. The states are Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Arizona and Maine.

Please talk to your legislator and let them know you need access to affordable denture care through the denturist profession.
Having affordable and functional dentures affects a persons physical and psychological well-being.
It could be the determining factor in a persons productivity, especially those recovering from an addiction.

Thank you for being here---gary

I have worked hard all of my life despite having a health problem that puts me in constant pain. I cannot afford dental care that would make my teeth as pretty as I would like them to be but I do manage to pay for the basic care I need.( I have always had dental problems so I give up a lot of other things to care for my teeth)Instead of veneers and dental implants I have partials but at least I look presentable. I certainly have compassion for people who have addiction problems however I do get tired of being one of many who has always been responsible but can't find a dental care that I can afford or a provider who will allow me to make payments.( I realize a lot of dentists have done this in the past and not gotten paid) All anyone would have to do is contact my retired dentist I had the first 30 years of my life and he would tell them that I never missed a payment.(he was kind enough to extend me that courtesy)Several years ago I was working at a low paying job.(I had moved and it took awhile for me to find something that paid better which I eventually did) For the first time in my life I went to a clinic. They were supposed to provide dental care on a sliding fee scale. I was making 8.00 an hour and that was too much for me to qualify !!! The dentist gave me an estimate for 6000 !!! What a joke. I had a front tooth that I had a root canal on and needed a cap. I could not afford the cap after just having paid for the root canal. I wasn't asking for free , just more affordable or possibly a payment plan. I was in tears. I noticed people in the waiting room laughing, fancy cell phones, acrylic nails, things I could not afford. I watched as they paid five dollars, 10 dollars even zero dollars for their care. I bet you they did not work !
So while I am all for people who have suffered addiction getting some help, I think those of us who work, stay out of trouble, etc. should be first in line.I have had times where I can't afford dental care yet my tax dollars go to addicts, people who dont' want to work, etc. It seems these days like responsible people can't get a break but make big life mistakes and someone will find a way to GIVE you what I can't afford.

Just pull all their teeth out when they get to prison, right after the haircut and before the TB shot. That will fix them right up. Just give them a rag to chew on, the bleeding will stop in just a couple minutes.

Well i grew up in foster care my hole life and never sean a dentis in till i was 18. Only becuse i was lucky enogh to get medacaid.I started meth when i was 14 and stoped when i was 23. I HAVE BEEN CLEAN FOR TWO YEARS BUT EVERYTIME I LOOK AT MY SELFITS LIKE I AM RIGHT BACK IN IT.I am only 25 and i already need dintures.the sade thing is i cant afford it due to no medicail coverage.

MO DENTIST YOU'RE WAY TO judgemental, i'm not a meth head, I just can't afford to go to the dentist,maybe you should look and see why people aren't going to the dentist.Suppose it's because dentistry is too high for the common people.Think twice turkey before you judge again!!!!!!!!!!

I live in Chillicothe. The community should be more concerned with the amount of teenagers in our community "Huffing". It is a HUGE problem that is being ignored. Prisoners with dental issues or the future of our community? Hmmmmm, let me think.....our children and their future!!!!!

I have rotten teeth, and it has nothing to do with meth. I have had bad teeth ever since I got my first tooth. Have never had insurance, so have had no way to afford to get them fixed. Yes I have a job, actually I have 2 jobs. I work days and nights. But I have to make sure that my children have a warm home, food to eat, and clothes on there backs. So explane to me how you copuld look me in the face and tell me that I am or have been a meth head....