The COVID-19 Pandemic Deepens Oral Health Inequities

Published 03/29/2021

COVID-19 has impacted every facet of daily life in 2020. It has exacerbated social, economic, and health care inequities and further limited access to dental care and other necessary health services. Many of the communities that faced barriers to accessing dental care and subsequently experienced the effects of poor oral health prior to the pandemic are also those hardest hit by it. Moreover, oral health providers working to meet the needs of their patients and communities in the midst of the pandemic have experienced financial and operational challenges that impact their ability to reliably provide care.