South Burlington, Vt.-based Timberlane Dental Group currently has 320 children who need urgent dental care but won't be treated for almost a year, the Burlington Free Press reports.
Tom Ruescher, DMD, of Timberlane Dental Group, attributes the backlog to insufficient operating room time at Burlington-based UVM Medical Center. The ORs are necessary for young children who must be anesthetized for procedures, Dr. Ruescher said.
Timberlane receives 140 days of OR time each year from UVM Medical Center, Dr. Ruescher said. Last year, Timberlane's six pediatric dentists treated about 400 patients in those 140 days, but still did not satisfy the demand for care.
UVM Medical Center said it works hard to accommodate the needs of the community, especially vulnerable pediatric dental patients, according to a statement emailed to the Burlington Free Press.
Timberlane Dental Group asked the recently opened Colchester, Vt.-based Green Mountain Surgery Center for OR time, but was denied due to a dispute between the facility and state healthcare regulators on the Green Mountain Care Board. The issue is currently before the state Supreme Court.
Kevin Mullin, Green Mountain Care Board chairman, declined the Burlington Free Press' request for comment due to the ongoing litigation.