Even When Insured, Arkansans Are Not Seeking Dental Care

After taking a deep dive into insurance claims between December 2019 and January 2020, the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement found that Arkansas residents were not regularly visiting the dentist, even when they had dental insurance. The recently published report “Oral Health in Arkansas” notes that while 54% of Arkansans had dental insurance in 2019, only 30% of those regularly sought dental care. A distinct relationship between lack of oral healthcare and the need for emergency dental care was also revealed. The data showed that 90% of those who visited emergency departments for dental reasons had not received regular dental care in the past year. Arkansans living in rural areas were the least likely to seek dental care, and the pandemic reduced utilization of dental services across the state. Click here to read more.