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Tiffin University student tells council 35% delayed dental care because of cost; suggests mobile clinics
Summary
Daniella Garner, a Tiffin University junior, told the council that a local survey found 58% of respondents visit a dentist every six months, 35% delayed care due to cost and only 15% knew about programs to reduce dental costs. She urged outreach and mobile clinics to improve access.
Daniella Garner, a junior at Tiffin University and participant in the Ronald Reagan Civics Leaders Fellowship, presented survey findings to the Tiffin City Council about dental-care access in Seneca County.
Garner said her random-sample survey found that 58% of respondents visit a dentist every six months, the recommended interval, but 35% reported they had delayed dental care because of cost. "When asked, have you ever delayed dental care due to costs? 35 percent said yes," she told the council. She also reported that only 15% of respondents were aware of programs that could reduce dental costs and that 87% said patients should have more input into health-policy decisions.
Garner described testimony collected in her project, including respondents who delayed care after breaking a tooth because of cost and a family record of nearly $60,000 in orthodontic bills for one child. She said affordability, transportation in rural areas and fear of dentists contributed to delayed or avoided care. She recommended increased outreach about existing programs and suggested exploring mobile dental clinics and school-based visits to reach residents and children.
Council members and staff encouraged Garner to connect with the Seneca County General Health District; the meeting record shows council members agreed to help put her in touch with the health district. The administration also noted that a mobile health clinic is scheduled for March 4 at Faith United Methodist Church, which Garner said she had tried to contact but encountered website firewall issues.
Why it matters: Local outreach and awareness can affect whether residents obtain preventive dental care. Garner’s survey suggests gaps in program awareness and affordability that local public-health partners could address.
The presentation closed with a brief exchange about next steps; council members said they would attempt to help Garner connect with county health officials.
