Medicaid gives people access to essential health care and supports when they need it most, but enormous Republican-proposed cuts would jeopardize the health of over 70 million people, including children, pregnant people, older adults, people with disabilities and people with low incomes. Throughout the spring, the National Partnership for Women & Families will be highlighting the importance of Medicaid in the lives of our staff and their loved ones, proudly proclaiming Medicaid Matters. Below, we highlight our colleague Sarah’s husband, Dr. Albert Coombs III, DMD, who highlights a front tooth, a full smile, and the power of Medicaid.
As a dentist who has served Medicaid patients in Washington, D.C. for over 13 years, I’ve seen how oral health can transform a person’s life. Sometimes, it’s not about complex surgery or life-threatening conditions. Sometimes, it’s something as simple – and as profound – as restoring a front tooth.
One of my patients came in quietly one afternoon. He’d been missing a front tooth for years. His dental health was stable overall, but his confidence had eroded over time. He rarely smiled. He avoided eye contact. It was clear this wasn’t just a cosmetic issue—it was something that was weighing on his identity, his sense of self-worth.
Thanks to DC Medicaid, we were able to place a dental implant. The procedure itself was straightforward. But what happened afterward was remarkable. I knew this patient outside of the office – he worked the front desk at my gym. After the treatment, the change was immediate. The man who once kept his head down now greeted people with a full smile. Members started commenting, “I’ve never seen him smile before.” And now? It’s hard to imagine him without one.
That implant did more than fill a gap in his teeth – it gave him permission to show up in the world differently. He was more confident, more social, more at ease. That’s the power of Medicaid coverage. It’s not just about oral health – it’s about dignity, confidence, and being seen.
Stories like his remind me why I continue to accept Medicaid, even when the financial and administrative challenges make it hard. Only one in three dentists in the U.S. accept Medicaid. Many avoid it because of low reimbursement rates and mounting paperwork. But I stay because I’ve seen how this program changes lives. Oral health is crucial to overall health and well-being. Poor dental health can contribute to many systematic health issues including: cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, cancer, respiratory problems and more. Tooth loss has also been linked to an increased risk of early death. Access to quality oral health care saves lives and Medicaid is critical to maintaining this access.
In D.C., over 42 percent of residents rely on Medicaid. That includes the essential workers who keep this city running – people like my patients. Proposed cuts to the Medicaid program, including $800 billion in federal funding, threaten to eliminate “optional” benefits like dental and vision. But this story proves there’s nothing optional about being able to smile without shame.
We need to protect – and expand – Medicaid dental coverage. Because behind every smile is a story. And behind every story is a person who deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for.
Read more from the Medicaid Matters series:
