Severe dental diseases persist in S.D. due to chronic poverty and lack of access to dentists – KELO AM-FM

Friday, October 11, 2019 10:42 p.m. CDT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- From small towns to reservations to urban centers, progress in improving poor dental health now connected to serious illnesses including heart disease has stalled in S.D. despite years of education, intervention, and charity.

A lack of access to proper dental care in South Dakota is driven both by geography and income. With a relatively small population spread out across a large area, many South Dakota residents do not have ready access to a dentist. Meanwhile, a high level of poverty in rural, urban and reservation communities also inhibits the ability of both adults and children to obtain proper dental care.

The look of rotting or missing teeth can reduce employment and educational opportunities. But increasingly, poor dental health is known to cause or be connected to numerous other serious health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and strokes.

Click here to read the full report.

Read more from the original source:

Severe dental diseases persist in S.D. due to chronic poverty and lack of access to dentists - KELO AM-FM