The lack of access to dental care in Florida is reflected in alarming statistics. 

A 2023 report by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health found that children in Florida aged 14 and younger seek dental care through emergency departments for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDC) at one of the highest rates in the country. The report also found that Florida hospitals were billed nearly $550 million for treating NTDC in 2021 alone.

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in dental injuries, leading many to seek care in hospital emergency departments (EDs). 

However, for most dental issues, consulting a dentist is more effective and beneficial than visiting an ED. 

A 2022 report by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health highlighted that in 2019 there were approximately 1.8 million ED visits for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) in the US, costing about $3.4 billion. This reflects a significant rise in both the number and cost of such visits over recent years.

Leaning the chair back. The sounds of dental instruments. Closing the door to the room. 

These may seem like normal experiences at a dental office, but for some patients who have experienced trauma, they can trigger stress and anxiety. And if those triggers are ignored by the dental team, the patient could be retraumatized. 

CareQuest Institute is raising concerns about potential Medicaid cuts that could impact millions of patients and dental providers. Reduced Medicaid funding may lead to limited access to care, lower reimbursement rates, and increased strain on dental practices. 

Read more about what industry experts are saying and how this could affect the future of dental care.

As President Donald Trump gets settled into his second term, many industry leaders are wondering which policy changes could affect oral healthcare in the US. 

Melissa Burroughs, director of public policy at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, spoke with Becker's Healthcare to discuss the policies needed to improve oral care in the US under the Trump administration.

Read the full story here.

California health advocates are expressing concerns over the Trump administration's proposed federal funding freeze, which could significantly impact California's Medicaid dental services. 

In this article in ABC10, Melissa Burroughs, CareQuest Institute Director of Public Policy, shares how any disruption of the state's Medicaid program could reverse recent improvements in dental care access, leaving vulnerable populations at risk.

Dental therapy is expanding as more states authorize dental therapists to practice. But there are still a lot of questions when it comes to dental therapists’ capabilities, employment, and education. 

Discrimination. Cost. Education. Employment. 

Together, they are four powerful socioeconomic factors that act as barriers to adequate oral health for millions of adults in the United States. The newest CareQuest Institute report, Does Our Oral Health Care System Welcome Everyone? dives into those factors in great — and concerning — detail. 

By Melissa Burroughs, Director, Public Policy, CareQuest Institute

For far too many people in America, good oral health is too expensive and out of reach. Too many families must make impossible trade-offs between getting the care they need and going into debt or putting food on the table. As we head into 2025, we need to ensure that policymakers understand the importance of oral health and its impact on our overall health and on our finances.