While researchers continue to explore the relationship between overall health and oral health, many Americans struggle with accessing dental care.
DentaQuest and KRC surveyed 2,300 individuals, including dentists, patients and administrators, to gain insight into the struggles Americans face when seeking out dental care.
Here are eight takeaways:
1. Seventy-five percent of Americans reported having barriers to obtain dental care, mainly citing cost of service (52 percent) and lack of insurance (31 percent).
2. Six in 10 Americans rated their oral health as either "fair," "poor" or "very poor."
3. Oral health is a top concern for patients, above heart, eye, digestive, and mental health.
4. Of those surveyed, 79 percent of patients and more than 90 percent of dentists recognized a clear link between oral health and overall health.
5. Patients said dental care is expensive (70 percent), scary (32 percent), confusing (28 percent), and inconvenient (27 percent).
6. Sixty-six percent of dentists believed oral health care is too expensive for patients.
7. Eight in 10 physicians think Americans' oral health will stay the same or get worse – Two-thirds of dentists and patients agree.
8. Americans agree that preventative dental care could improve the system.
For full survey findings, click here.
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Dentist pleads guilty to $5M+ Medicaid fraud scheme
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DentaQuest and KRC surveyed 2,300 individuals, including dentists, patients and administrators, to gain insight into the struggles Americans face when seeking out dental care.
Here are eight takeaways:
1. Seventy-five percent of Americans reported having barriers to obtain dental care, mainly citing cost of service (52 percent) and lack of insurance (31 percent).
2. Six in 10 Americans rated their oral health as either "fair," "poor" or "very poor."
3. Oral health is a top concern for patients, above heart, eye, digestive, and mental health.
4. Of those surveyed, 79 percent of patients and more than 90 percent of dentists recognized a clear link between oral health and overall health.
5. Patients said dental care is expensive (70 percent), scary (32 percent), confusing (28 percent), and inconvenient (27 percent).
6. Sixty-six percent of dentists believed oral health care is too expensive for patients.
7. Eight in 10 physicians think Americans' oral health will stay the same or get worse – Two-thirds of dentists and patients agree.
8. Americans agree that preventative dental care could improve the system.
For full survey findings, click here.
More articles on dental:
Dentist pleads guilty to $5M+ Medicaid fraud scheme
9 dental companies making headlines
Employee at Minnesota dental practice stole nitrous oxide, police say