Study Reveals Young Adults Are Most Likely to Skip Dental Visits
Nearly one in three young adults did not access professional dental care in the past year, according to a new national study. The findings highlight urgent policy and practice challenges as cost, lack of insurance, and broader life struggles continue to keep preventive dental care out of reach.
A new study published in Frontiers in Oral Health underscores a troubling trend: young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 are the most likely age group to forgo routine dental care. Nearly one in three reported skipping a dental visit in the past year, signaling a growing gap between oral health needs and available access. The study analyzed health and demographic data from nearly 128,000 adults enrolled in the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us program. By examining dental visits in the context of socioeconomic status, insurance coverage, and self-reported health challenges, the research offers a clearer picture of how oral health disparities intersect with broader life circumstances.
Young adults who missed dental visits were more likely to lack health insurance, struggle with housing instability, and report poor mental health. They also relied more heavily on emergency care, reinforcing the reality that untreated dental disease can quickly escalate into urgent medical problems. Cost barriers and lack of insurance coverage emerged as the most common reasons for skipping care. In contrast, older adults were more likely to have dental coverage and stable housing but reported more disabilities, creating different barriers such as mobility and transportation challenges. The findings emphasize the importance of engaging younger patients early and supporting community-based and preventive care models. Click here to read more.
