Millions are suffering from untreated dental conditions because insurance refuses to recognize the mouth as part of the body. This must change—now.

Right now in America, people are being treated for infections in their bodies—while being denied coverage for the source of those infections in their mouths.

• This is not just a policy gap.
• This is a public health crisis.

Hello, my name is Cheryle Renee Moses—a proud “Grady baby” born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1958.

Right now, I am living with an infection in my jaw.

I can feel it. I know my body. And I have gone to multiple dentists to confirm that the infection is real.

I told my dentist clearly:
“I want this tooth and this 40+ year-old bridge removed.”

But instead, I was told:

“Let’s try to save the tooth.”
The recommendation?
To drill through my existing bridge to perform a root canal—on a decaying anchor tooth—while I am actively dealing with infection.

That does not make sense to me.

This is a structure that is over 40 years old, with a failing tooth underneath it, and an infection I have been managing for years. I am not looking for a temporary fix—I am asking for the source of the infection to be removed.

And then came the cost:

Root canal: $3,500+
Additional dental work: even more

So I took another step. I went to my Kaiser Permanente internal medicine doctor—because this is not just dental. This is my body.

My doctor prescribed antibiotics.
Those are covered by my health insurance.

But the procedure required to remove the infection—the tooth and failing bridge—is not.

Let that sink in.

We are covering the medication to manage the infection…
But not the treatment to eliminate it.

This is not just my story.

This is happening to millions of Americans—especially seniors—every single day.

There is extensive research linking oral health to serious conditions such as:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Systemic infections that can spread throughout the body

Yet programs like Medicare still do not treat dental care as part of major medical coverage.

This is a dangerous gap in our healthcare system.

Because the truth is simple:

The mouth is part of the body.
And if it is part of the body—
then it must be covered as part of healthcare.

We Demand:

• Dental care be classified and covered as major medical care
• Coverage for medically necessary procedures, including:Tooth extractions
• Infection treatment
• Bridges, dentures, and restorative care
• Policy reform within Medicare and all major health insurance systems

 This is not about cosmetic dentistry.

This is about health.
This is about dignity.
This is about survival.

The Mouth Is Not Separate. Period.
 
Call to Action:
Sign this petition.
Share your story.
Stand with us.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/ycxjku9f