U.S. dental care system is in crisis

Dan Rodricks is right to call attention to our nation's dental care crisis, as are Rep. Elijah Cummings and Sen. Bernie Sanders for trying to make dental care more accessible ("Wall Street pays, the nation smiles," June 17). According to the Institute of Medicine, our dental care system is failing a third of our population — more than 100 million children and adults.

The problem is long-standing: A landmark 2000 report from the U.S. Surgeon General's Office declared oral disease a "silent epidemic." America's underserved children and families shouldn't have to wait any longer — they deserve a solution.

That's why many states are looking at Alaska, where mid-level dental care providers are doing a great job bringing preventive and everyday dental care to underserved communities. Minnesota has just started using mid-level dental providers, and more than a dozen other states are exploring this option.

Mid-level dental providers can and should be part of the solution to our dental care crisis. More states should consider adding them to their dental care workforces.

David Jordan, Boston, Mass.

The writer is dental access project director for the advocacy group Community Catalyst.