Finding dental care is a big problem for Wisconsinites with disabilities across the lifespan. A new bill could help more people get dental care. You can contact your legislators about it.

What is happening: A dental therapy bill (LRB 1947) has been introduced in the legislature; dental therapy is also part of a $43 million dental care package announced by Governor Evers that includes better funding to dentists who take Medicaid.  

What would the bill do: The bill would allow dental therapists to practice in Wisconsin like they do in other states.   A licensed dental therapist works under the supervision of a dentist and can provide important preventative and restorative dental care. These programs in other states have increased dental care access to people who often have a hard time finding a dentist. 

What you can do: Call your legislator to talk about lack of access to dental care. Your legislators can co-sponsor the Dental Therapy bill: LRB 1947 and they can support the Governor’s dental funding package. 

• Find your legislator’s contact information here: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/
• If your legislator has signed on to this bill, say thank you! 

Things you can say:

• People with disabilities in Wisconsin have a hard time getting regular dental care. As a result many people have to have their teeth pulled, have high rates of periodontal disease, and have other poor health outcomes that could be prevented.  
• Getting dental care is especially hard for people with disabilities and others enrolled in Medicaid.  More than 1 million Wisconsinites get dental care through Medicaid, but only 37% of the state’s dentists accept Medicaid. 
• State data shows that 29% of adults with disabilities reported having at least one permanent tooth removed over the past year, and 26% said they had not visited a dentist within the past year.
• 1.2 million people live in areas-–mostly rural--with dentist shortages. Federal data shows dental shortages in 64 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.
• Adults with a disability are less likely to visit the dentist for a cleaning, check-up, or exam than people without disabilities (47% and 76%, respectively).
• People with disabilities are more likely to visit the dentist when something was wrong or causing pain (29% and 12%, respectively), as compared to adults without a disability.