A new survey published in early May shows that 27 per cent of Americans do not have dental insurance.
According to the CareQuest Institute’s latest State of Oral Health Equity in America report, about 72 million adults in the United States lack dental insurance — nearly three times the percentage of adults without health insurance.
The 2024 survey, which had responses from more than 9,000 adults, is the largest annual, nationally representative survey on adult oral health in the U.S.
Among its key findings:
- About one-third of Medicare (31 per cent) and Medicaid (33 per cent) recipients do not have dental insurance.
- More than four in five adults (83 per cent) without health insurance also lack dental coverage.
- Adults with lower income and education levels were more likely to be uninsured for dental care.
- The youngest adults (ages 18–29) and the oldest (ages 60 and older) were more likely to lack dental insurance compared to those aged 30 to 59.
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ADA’s open letter
Meanwhile, the American Dental Association (ADA) recently published an open letter urging dental benefit administrators, Medicaid agencies and employer groups to expand coverage for preventive dental services throughout a patient’s life.
“Oral health is critical for overall health and well-being,” the ADA wrote. “Not only does oral health promote people’s ability to chew, speak and smile, it is also linked with systemic conditions that extend well beyond the mouth.”
Also read: Canada ranks third globally in managing tooth decay, behind U.S. and Switzerland
The letter outlines nine preventive dental services the ADA recommends be covered at least twice annually. These include:
- Prophylaxis (professional cleaning)
- Oral health risk assessment
- Screening and education for oral and oropharyngeal cancer and other oral-systemic conditions
- Topical fluoride applications
- Interim caries-arresting medicament application (e.g., silver diamine fluoride)
- Prescription or use of supplemental dietary or topical fluoride for home use
- Application and reapplication of pit and fissure sealants
- Resin infiltrations
- In-office patient education (e.g., oral hygiene instruction, dietary counselling, education about oral-systemic conditions, and tobacco cessation counselling)
The ADA emphasized that preventive dental care can significantly reduce the need for more expensive restorative treatments and improve overall health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations such as older adults and those with chronic conditions.
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