Survey Results Show Inequities in Dental Care Still Exist

In a study of 6,000 Americans conducted by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, results showed that some aspects of dental care have bounced back since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic while others remain underutilized. The number of adults who have seen an oral health professional within the past 6 months grew to 46% compared to 43% in 2021. On the other hand, 55% of respondentxss noted they had an oral problem and did not seek dental care when they needed it; 25% of those who did not seek care named cost as the reason why. The report suggests adding dental benefits to adult Medicaid coverage, increased use of teledentistry, and expansion of the dental workforce with midlevel practitioners as ways to improve Americans’ access to dental care. Click here to read more.