Health care
BY DACIA GARCIA
Experts stress importance of oral care
Diving in deeper
12 Oaks Dental dentists Dr. Marc Worob and Dr. Elyse Barron focus on educating patients about the connection between dental care and whole body health. They said dental problems can a ect: • sleep • breathing • blood pressure • body systems Studies from the past 15 years have shown bacteria found in the mouth can cause periodontal disease and ultimately a ect the heart, arteries and the brain. “We’re trying to be very comprehensive and thorough and give people the best results possible, and if you help them do all these things, they’re going to live longer and live better lives and be able to enjoy that pretty smile they spend a lot of money on,” Worob said.
Travis County has seen a substantial increase in its population with an estimated 67,000 new residents from 2020 to 2024. This growth comes with a higher demand for dental services to accommodate all residents. Low-income residents have reported barriers to receiving dental care they can a ord. In the 2020 Austin Area Community Survey, an average of 26% of survey respondents were unable to access dental services. Travis County’s hospital district, Central Health, has expanded its health care services for low-income residents since its establishment in 2004, including o ering dental services through its partnership with CommUnityCare, a federally quali ed health center. Dr. Joshua Even is the director of dental services at CommUnityCare. Even works as a general dentist and also helps with management of the center’s dental services. CommUnityCare has nine locations with a ordable dental health services throughout the Austin area for both insured and uninsured community members. Patients are able to receive exams, cleanings, llings, extractions and preventative care. For more complicated cases, the center partners with oral surgeons. “I think forever in this country people look at dental care as a luxury item that is incredibly expensive, but it’s really important to be able to access it across the board,” Even said. “The mouth is part of the body, and most dental diseases are chronic infections or in ammatory diseases that have real impact on the overall health.”
Zooming in
919 dentists in Travis County
1.39M population in Travis County
97% of CommUnityCare patients are under the 200% poverty line of $62,400 for a household of four 38,000 patients received dental care from CommUnityCare in 2024
The impact Research reports and dental professionals have stated there is a strong connection between poor dental health and issues throughout di erent body systems.
Periodontal disease Alzheimer’s disease Atherosclerosis Respiratory problems
Staying prepared
Heart disease
Barron’s general tips for dental care include: • Brush for two minutes twice a day • Floss • Use a low abrasion remineralizing toothpaste • Use a waterpick for bone loss and crown edges
Rheumatoid arthritis Diabetes
Pregnancy complications
• Drink 64-100 ounces of water per day • Get seven hours of good-quality sleep • Exercise 150 minutes per week
SOURCES: COMMUNITYCARE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES COMMUNITY IMPACT
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