Equalizing Access to Dental Care

 Disparities were diminished, but not eliminated, after expansions in public dental coverageIn Brief:Expanding eligibility for public coverage of dental care was linked to reductions in racial and ethnic disparities in use of dental services, according to a recent analysis.Despite lessened disparities, overall use of dental care remained low across racial and ethnic groups, indicating that insurance coverage is one of multiple factors that could improve access to care.Racial and ethnic disparities in use of dental services were lessened after public dental insurance eligibility was expanded. | Adobe StockRegular visits to the dentist can keep our mouths healthy and keep tooth decay and other problems at bay. But studies show that most American adults do not see the dentist regularly. This is especially true for those with limited incomes, a group disproportionately represented by Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults. These Americans have significantly higher rates of untreated tooth decay compared to non-Hispanic White adults. These oral health differences, called disparities, have stubbornly persisted over the last 20 years, as recently confirmed in the new NIH report Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges, a comprehensive overview of the nation ’s oral health.A new analysis, however, offers some hope. A team led by George Wehby, PhD, a professor in health management and policy at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, found that expanding pu...
Source: Dental Technology Blog - Category: Dentistry Source Type: news