Good oral health is crucial for overall well-being, yet access to high-quality care remains a persistent challenge for many Virginians. Virginia’s Medicaid program offers comprehensive dental coverage to all members, for example, but slightly more than half of enrolled children saw a dentist last year — and even fewer adults received care. Access issues are multifaceted, with those most in need often facing barriers such as lack of transportation, limited translation resources, and the inability to take time off work for appointments.
There’s one pervasive challenge that connects to all of these issues, an issue we’re taking direct aim at in 2024: Virginia’s oral health workforce is in crisis.
In the News
The Virginian-Pilot: Column: Alleviate the Oral Health Workforce Crisis in Virginia
June 6, 2024