'Uh-oh' — Minnesota Dental Association targets Lynch in ad

I opened today's Rochester Post-Bulletin and was struck by a full-page ad  paid for by the Minnesota Dental Association. It features a patient with his mouth open and two gloved hands clutching dental tools that are in his mouth. Above the picture it says "The last thing you want to hear when you're getting dental care is 'uh-oh.'"

The ad then goes on to single out Rochester Sen. Ann Lynch saying she "wants to allow a new type of dental worker to perform unsupervised surgery on you and your family."

The ad urges readers to call the Democrat's office and "tell her unsupervised workers doing dental surgery is a bad idea."

This all centers around Lynch's bill, which would create a new mid-level dental practitioner. The goal is to help address dental access problems — especially for some lower-income residents in the urban core and rural areas. The oral health practitioners would be allowed to fill cavities, pull teeth and prescribe certain medication.

The Minnesota Dental Association today launched a vigorous ad campaign against the proposal. It includes a full-page ad in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune and ads in other newspapers across the state. They are also doing some radio ads and Web-only ads. But it's safe to say the association is spending tens of thousands of dollars to get their message out.

Comments

[Rochester_Gadfly]

Separate but unequal. The poor get less-trained dental professionals because, as Lynch says, it’s better than nothing. Thanks for your elitist compassion Ann, oh, and, nice pearls.

[mtreff]

hey rochester gadfly, please get all the correct info about this before you start bashing sen lynch and the practitioner

[jennalark]

the OHP is an advanced level of training - not same as dentist, but can't do all that a dentist does either. right now, the poor and those in nursing homes don't have access to dentists. dentists often won't see them because the state medicaid program doesn't pay enough. this midlevel dental practitioner is a lot like nurse practitioners in medicine. they are great and should be encouraged, not subject to "practice-protecting" ads and scare tactices

[Jim Rongstad]

I actually support this. The Minnesota Dental Association opposes it because it will reduce the earnings of dentists.

[Cosmetic Dentist Cleveland]

Its good that MDA started ad campaigns.These campaigns can really help them to increase their profits.

[teeth whitening]

I have the same problem brushing my teeth and I don't have a complete solution.

[Volker]

Hallo,
Ich haben eben Eure Internetseite besucht und nutzen sogleich die Gelegenheit,euch auch einen Gruß aus Deutschland in Eurem Gästebuch zu hinterlassen. P.S. Kommt uns doch auch mal besuchen
http://www.MeerblickSylt.de
http://www.OstseeblickHolm.de

[Dental Plan Provider]

I guess there's nothing wrong with the ad, its I think more of informing the public to become more precautious when having a dental surgery or services. As they say, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.

[teeth]

the OHP is an advanced level of training - not same as dentist, but can't do all that a dentist does either. right now

[Lawrenceville dentist]

If you had some way of rating posts I would for sure give you a high rating my friend!

[Ashburn Dentist]

you can find a dentist pretty easily if you look in local directories like dentists in Ashburn.

[Dentist in Memphis]

Isn't it that dental care should only be performed by the people who are competent enough in the field of dentistry? I don't know. But on a personal note, I don't like the idea of letting some dentists do dental care without the assurance of expertise. As for my oral care, I only trust my dentist in Memphis whom I know very well. It only takes a short drive to Appling Road.

[xueqi]

http://16108142.blog.hexun.com/