In the News

In the U.S., 92% of voters across the political spectrum support adding a dental benefit to Medicare, according to a report from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network.

Kaz Rafia, DDS. Chief Health Equity Officer at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health (Boston). Dr. Rafia is the inaugural chief health equity officer at CareQuest, which he has successfully transitioned into a sustainable and impactful grantmaking institution. In his role, is particularly focused on increasing health equity, Medicare and Medicaid advocacy, safety net clinics and healthcare workforce support. He is active in the Health Equity Compact and contributes to their efforts towards health equity in the state of Massachusetts.

Eighty-five percent of veterans are ineligible for dental coverage through the Veterans Affairs (VA), making lack of access to dental care a significant and devastatingly common issue for those who have served our country.

A new poll by CareQuest Institute and the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN) reveals that, regardless of political orientation, 92% of voters nationwide are in favor of adding dental coverage to Medicare.

Approximately 50% of all Medicare enrollees do not have dental coverage, and nearly 24 million individuals on Medicare have not visited a dentist within the last 12 months, according to a July 16 news release from CareQuest.

According to the CareQuest Institute, a nonprofit aiming to increase equity in dental care, 93% of people living in poverty need dental care they aren’t getting. For many, it’s simply too expensive.

Some patients don't want to be bothered with health care screenings when they're at the dentist, but new data says that's far from the norm. These kinds of screenings are sorely needed to improve health outcomes in the United States. Oral health and heart health may seem unrelated, but recent data from CareQuest reveals those with periodontal diseases are more likely to suffer cardiovascular complications. In fact, the risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke is two to three times higher.

[Senator Bernie] Sanders told USA TODAY that U.S. dental care is "in crisis" with far too many Americans shut out of the system. Nearly 69 million U.S. adults did not have dental insurance or access to routine oral health care last year, according to the nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

More than half (52.8%) of individuals in households experiencing disabilities are more frequently denied health care or oral health care due to discrimination. To support individuals with disabilities, the Delta Dental of Illinois Enhanced Benefits Program included additional checkups, cleanings, and fluoride treatments.

The report from CareQuest Institute1 highlights research that shows poor oral health—particularly periodontal disease—can increase the risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). The aggregated findings indicate that having an infection of periodontal bacteria, notably Porphyromonas gingivalis, may trigger the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in the brain, contributing to cognitive decline and memory loss associated with ADRD.