The
Mayo Clinic describes oral health as “a window to your overall health”. Receiving regular or routine dental care can help to prevent painful and/or uncomfortable infections, gum disease, and tooth decay as well as provide treatment at earlier stages of decay or disease. Poor dental health has also been
linked to other health issues, like cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, and more, and can impact eating and digestion (from things like difficulty chewing and swallowing), speech issues, and
respiration/respiratory health.
However, dental care isn’t always accessible. Only some employers provide access to dental insurance plans;
one study estimates that 27% of adults in the U.S. do not have dental insurance. Even those with coverage may struggle to afford dental care:
One study found that about 40% of insured adults do not receive regular dental care, and, of those, about 4 in 10 report cost as the reason for
forgoing care.
This measure aims to provide users with information on utilization of dental care throughout the U.S., which can work to inform efforts to expand access and utilization of dental care for populations in need.
Percent of Adults Who Had Dental Visit in the Past Year by State: Breakdowns and Data Source
How many people in the past 12 months had a dental visit? State Health Compare provides state-level estimates of the percent of adults who had a dental visit in the past year. This measure is based on National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data.
Two breakdowns are available for this measure: Age and Coverage Type.
