CareQuest Institute’s latest State of Oral Health Equity in America survey reveals both progress and ongoing gaps that demand attention.
While 70% of US adults report having a dental visit in the past year, millions of adults still seek dental care in the emergency department (ED), put off care because they exceed their annual deductible, or travel outside the US to receive more affordable dental care.
Key insights for policymakers, providers, and advocates:
- Adults with at least one disability are less likely to have a dental home or a usual source of dental care (72%) compared to those without a disability (82%).
- 5% of adults without dental insurance say they sought dental care in an ED, compared to 3% of adults with any kind of dental insurance.
- 4% of adults (10.7 million) traveled outside the US to receive dental care.
- 89% of adults (237.6 million) want their dentist to be able to speak to them in their preferred language.
The authors conclude:
Enhancing dental insurance coverage, improving the affordability of care, growing the oral health care workforce, and fostering inclusive oral health care settings are essential steps toward a more equitable oral health system.”
You may also be interested in:
- State of Oral Health Equity in America, a web page highlighting key findings and reports from previous annual surveys on the oral health of adults in the US.
- Dental Care in Crisis: Tracking the Cost and Prevalence of Emergency Department Visits for Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions, a visual report finding an alarming increase in ED visits by children for dental conditions.
- The Need for Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage Across All States, a fact sheet outlining the health risks and economic consequences of Medicaid’s varying adult dental benefits across states.
