State Rep. Regina Cobb recently participated in a televised state dental panel hosted by Arizona PBS.
Cobb, a dentist by profession, and Allan Allford, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Arizona, discussed access to health care for the uninsured and underserved. According to Cobb, dental health and overall health are interconnected.
“For a long time we separated those two,” the lawmaker said. “But knowing that we have gum disease … can affect your heart, can affect diabetes and can affect all kind of systematic diseases that we have.”
She added that there are barriers that prevent people from going to the dentist, including paranoia and demographics. She believes education could help allay people’s fears.
The former president of the Arizona Dental Association said rural residents need easier access to dental care. According to Arizona PBS, public and private sector entities are looking for ways to increase access to oral health care across the board.
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