Throughout the pandemic, Americans have celebrated farm workers for keeping food on the table in the toughest of times. Yet, we conveniently forget about their sacrifice as those same workers toil in the heat without access to preventative dental care. As a private practice dentist in Ventura County, a major agricultural center, who offers my services at low or no-cost to farm workers and their families, I’ve seen first-hand the detrimental effects of this lack of access to basic dental care.
Let me tell you about the father of a young patient of mine, Juan, who works in nearby fields. Juan left Mexico to make a better life for himself and his family. When Juan brought one of his six children in for a dental checkup, I noticed Juan himself looked unwell. He told me that he had a painful toothache. I offered to examine him, but he hesitated because he was afraid of the cost. I assured him that I could provide an exam at no cost and he hesitantly agreed. I was shocked to see how severely damaged his teeth were. He explained that he’s never had any dental care. He also shared that when he came to the U.S., he quickly adopted a diet that consisted of fast food, candy, soda, and sports drinks. Sadly, I...