As a society, the U.S. values straight white teeth. Both professional studies and anecdotal evidence highlight how people with beautiful smiles are more likely to get hired, obtain promotions and win over potential partners on dates. Essentially, someone with healthy teeth will be treated better throughout life.
However, dental care isn’t always accessible or affordable in the United States. Nearly half (48%) of insured Americans have skipped dental visits due to cost. This jumps up to 65% of Americans without insurance.
The dental industry in the United States is complex. Learn more about the state of oral health in America and how dental professionals are working to help more patients like you each year.
Oral care statistics in the United States
The first place to start is with a general overview of dental care in the United States. Here are a few eye-opening statistics that break this down:
- 26% of Americans have untreated dental cavities.
- 46% of adults 30 or older have signs of gum disease.
- 75% of Hispanics and non-Hispanic Black adults have an unmet need for dental treatment.
- 77 million American adults do not have dental insurance.
- The average cost of a filling is $148 and the average cost of tooth extraction is $196.
- 42% of Americans say they don’t visit the dentist as often as they would like, this is the leading medical care provider Americans wish they saw more.
Cost is a significant prohibiting factor to receiving dental care. Americans without dental insurance often put off visits to the dentist because they can’t afford the costs out-of-pocket. Americans who are traditionally poorer (specifically non-white Americans) are more likely to have untreated dental issues.
Considering most Americans have less than $5,000 saved in case of an emergency, most people can’t afford a dental bill that includes X-rays, cleanings, fillings, gum treatments and potential extractions. Without insurance, these procedures add up and could wipe out a person’s savings.
How does this increase or decrease the need for professional oral care?
Unfortunately, inaccessible oral care creates a snowball effect that actually increases the costs of seeing dentists for most Americans. If a patient has insurance or affordable dental care through which they receive preventative maintenance, they might go several years without needing serious dental intervention. In this case, they pay a small fee each year.
However, a patient who misses their dental visits for multiple years because of the costs could develop serious oral health issues. By the time the issues are too severe to ignore, they might require intense interventions that could cost thousands of dollars.
Basic dental care needs to be accessible and affordable in order to cut long-term dental costs and improve the oral health of most Americans.
Barriers to oral care
There are several reasons why people can’t or won’t seek out dental care. This issue is far more complex than reducing the costs of seeing a dentist. Here are a few factors that keep people from keeping up with their oral health.
Monetary barriers
This article has already covered the monetary costs of routine care and emergency dental treatment; however, there are secondary costs that Americans accrue when they visit the dentist. For example, many people have to miss work due to dental appointments and recovery. While some dentists offer night and weekend hours, other patients have to lose wages to receive dental treatment during business hours.
Additionally, patients have to worry about childcare and transportation costs related to dental visits.
Stigmas
Many people who haven’t been to the dentist recently start to avoid the dentist. They may worry that the dentist will judge them or shame them for their oral health. Other patients might worry that the dentist will find issues with their teeth and that the price to fix them will be costly.
Inequities
Not everyone has access to a dentist. In the United States, the average patient-to-dentist ratio is 1,399 to 1, according to Byte. However, in dental deserts, this ratio can jump to one dentist for every 20,000 patients. Some counties don’t have any dentists at all.
Dental care isn’t just restricted by geography. Many people also face language barriers. Not every town has a dentist who speaks Vietnamese, Portuguese, Swahili or any other language that local residents use. Even finding American Sign Language interpreters can be a challenge.
Public policies
Dental insurance is not legally required by the ACA, and you can pick a plan with or without dental coverage. While dental coverage offered by providers must be available for children under the age of 18, Americans don’t have to buy it. This means it is up to individuals whether they want (or can afford) dental care.
Dental care is not considered essential for adults, which means health plans do not have to offer it. This means some people who want dental coverage might not be able to access it from their provider.
Coverage gaps in oral care
The future of oral care in the U.S. might not be as bright as dental health experts would like. Medicare and Medicaid, which are essential services for people who need healthcare, don’t always cover dental health. In fact, researchers at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine found a severe drop in people who visit the dentist after they turn 65. This is because of the lack of coverage offered by Medicare.
For Medicaid, coverage depends on the state level. While states are required to cover dental care until patients turn 21, any dental coverage is optional once the patient reaches adulthood. As a result, some states offer oral care as part of their Medicaid benefits, while others do not — leaving patients to pay out-of-pocket.
While it is possible to secure dental insurance privately, many people can’t afford to take on that extra monthly cost. To many, it doesn’t seem fair to ask Medicare and Medicaid recipients to seek out private insurance on top of their state and federal benefits.
Bridging coverage gaps
In the event that you need help with a coverage gap or know someone who does, there are options. Patients can look for low-cost dentists in their area who specifically help people without dental coverage. Some dentists have even opened mobile clinics through dental buses that drive to rural areas and help people receive dental care. Many dentists will also work with patients to secure payment plans to break down large bills into manageable monthly chunks.
Future trends for dental care in the U.S.
When you consider the current state of oral care in the United States, the possibility of accessible treatment can seem insurmountable. However, small steps can add up to make a big impact. Here are a few positive trends changing the game.
Dental telehealth
Telehealth is the practice of meeting with medical professionals virtually, usually over video calls. It became a big part of American lives during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued since as more providers and patients learned the variety of services that can be offered remotely. There are several benefits of teledentistry. Patients can meet with a dentist from their homes and on their schedules, which reduces barriers like needing time off from work and childcare.
However, there are some drawbacks to teledentistry. A dentist might need to see a patient in person to confirm a diagnosis and the patient will definitely need to make an appointment to have work done. Unlike a medical diagnosis where a patient can self-administer a cream or take a medication, only a dentist can fill a cavity or complete a root canal.
Additionally, not all insurance plans cover video visits, so telehealth could be costly for some patients.
Sustainability in dental care
Even outside of dental visits, basic oral healthcare can get expensive. A basic electric toothbrush may cost less than $10 but users also need to pay for batteries. Toothpaste, floss and mouthwash also contribute to grocery expenses and might cause some families to go over budget.
Some companies are working to make dental care more sustainable. This means that fewer brushes and tubes of toothpaste will end up in landfills. It also means that people can reuse items and won’t have to constantly pay for basic dental care.
VR in dental care
Additionally, dentists are constantly working to make oral care less invasive and painful. For example, by treating cavities with a laser, a patient doesn’t need a shot of novocaine that numbs their whole mouth. This makes people less likely to put off dental visits for fear of pain and discomfort.
By investing in virtual reality for dental care, dentists can identify oral problems faster and treat them easier.
There isn’t a single solution to improve oral care coverage in the U.S. However, when dental care becomes more affordable and accessible (and less painful) more people will seek out treatment before their dental problems become too severe to ignore.
Need a Doctor’s Appointment? Find one on Zocdoc.