About 65% of adults currently have dental insurance, according to Delta Dental's 2024 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness report.
The Delta Dental Plans Association partnered with market research firm Material Holdings to create the report, which used online surveys of two groups: 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and over and 1,000 parents of children ages 12 and under. The report was published May 2.
Here are five notes on dental coverage from the report:
1. The percentage of adults with dental coverage in 2023 represents a five-year high. About 56% of adults reported having dental insurance in 2020.
2. About 88% of parents indicated that their children are covered by dental insurance, which is consistent with last year's report.
3. Eighty-eight percent of adults indicated that insurance makes them less worried about dental emergencies.
4. Twenty-two percent of adults said out-of-pocket costs are a top barrier for seeking unexpected care, compared to 17% of adults in 2023.
5. Eighty-three percent of adults who visited the dentist in 2023 had dental coverage. About 58% of adults who visited the dentist in 2023 did not have dental coverage.