Dr. Catrise Austin Responds to CNN’s 'State of Decay' Report!

Oct. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- Dr. Catrise Austin says CNN was right to report on a loophole in the Affordable Care Act AKA “Obamacare”.  The report, authored by Jen Christensen, notates how many people will not have dental benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Austin says this loophole could lead to major health issues in the long run.

“Dentists can detect certain cancers before they are diagnosed and even test for HIV now at days.  In fact, more than 120 diseases have symptoms that can be identified through an oral exam!  This makes having an oral exam extremely important to one's overall health. It is hard enough to get people into the dental chair these days. First, we as dentists have a demographic of people plagued by a fear of the dentists. Then there is the copay costs associated with insurance plans and a failing economy.  Obamacare doesn’t require dental insurance to be offered to adults, which is going to present an even bigger challenge to me as a provider, but a greater challenge to the overall health of the nation,” said Dr. Austin.

According to CNN “There is a lot of data showing that periodontal disease can increase your risk for heart attacks and strokes. There are so many ways this can impact your overall health. That is why regular access to care is so important.” The report went on to cite that emergency room visits for dental health have doubled from about a decade ago. In 1999-2000, there were a reported 1 million cases of adults over 65 who went to the ER for dental problems; in 2009-10, there were 2.3 million cases.

“The senior population will be most likely impacted by this loophole,” continued Dr. Austin. “If we as dentists don’t bring attention to it- people will suffer. It is possible cancer will go undetected, diabetics will be negatively impacted, and seniors won’t feel as confident with a poor smile.”

Dr. Catrise Austin is readily available to discuss the topic of dental care and the Affordable Care Act with members of the media.

About:  Best known as the “Dentist to the Stars”, musicians, actors, comedians, journalists, models, beauty pageant contestants, and professional athletes have placed their smiles in Dr. Catrise Austin’s capable hands. She is the author of a dental consumer book “5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile”, a professional speaker, Colgate spokesperson, entrepreneur, and founder of NYC Cosmetic and General Dentistry. Dr. Austin is an award-winning dentist and columnist who has solidified her reputation in her field with national TV appearances on The Discovery Health Channel, “Today Show”, “Good Morning America,” and VH1’s “Love and Hip Hop”, among others. She is available for interviews on dental health, HIV testing in the dental office, entrepreneurship, careers in dentistry, and improving your image with your smile. Read her full biography by clicking here: http://nyccgd.com/about-us/

Dr. Catrise Austin -New York City Cosmetic and General Dentistry

119 W. 57th Street. Suite 512

New York, NY 10019

212-262-6054