Dental care is often an emotional decision. The March 25 Sun Journal editorial rightly addressed the shortfalls of state and national programs to provide adequate resources for dental care. However, history has shown that money allocated for preventive services has had only a small impact on the overall health of the nation.

My office does not take MaineCare because of its low reimbursement level, so money is a factor. But, waiting until dental problems become significant is a fact, whether a patient is covered by MaineCare, has dental insurance, or is self-pay.

The reason for not seeking dental care early is as much emotional as it is financial. We see patients who finally seek dental treatment after 10 or 20 years because of fear. They come to us because we offer sedation dentistry to help get through their emotional resistance. They have big and often expensive problems.

We have offered preventive services since the 1970s. Sealants, home care instruction, fluoride treatments, early detection and screening. Yet people still put off dental visits until they have a perceived problem.

It’s the same reason people go to the emergency room. They get some serious condition because they have not followed a preventive lifestyle. Then they expect the state, their insurance, somebody, to pay for it.

Life doesn’t always follow logic.

The editorial hit it right on. It’s a function of finance and poor priorities, which do not all lie in the hands of the state.

Robert D. Limoges, D.M.D., Auburn