The Five Most Popular CareQuest Institute Publications of 2023

• The prevalence of early childhood caries in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities is three times higher than for white children.
• Black and AI/AN women are 2.9 and 2.5 times more likely, respectively, to die from pregnancy-related causes than non-Hispanic white women.
• There is growing evidence that individuals who use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are at a higher risk for dental caries.

These are just a few key findings from three of the most popular CareQuest Institute research reports published in 2023.

Throughout the year, CareQuest Institute produced more than 100 publications, from peer-reviewed journal articles to comprehensive white papers. These publications were all powered by state- and national-level representative data sources, including health care claims data, integrated medical-dental databases, and surveys of health care experiences. The research uncovered provocative trends in the oral health care system that spur and support the development of evidence-based, person-centered strategies for care and new value-based financing models.

In 2023, our research garnered about 175,000 page views — more than doubling the total from 2022. Based on popularity, these are the five top publications of the year:

1. Clearing the Air: The Relationship Between Electronic Cigarette Use, Vaping, and Oral Health (January)
   
   Although presented as a safer alternative to tobacco, e-cigarette use is associated with a variety of health risks, according to this visual report. The report explains how individuals who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to report having periodontal (gum) disease compared to those who do not smoke or use other nicotine products. E-cigarette use is linked with signs of periodontal disease such as increased plaque, deeper periodontal pockets around the teeth, and bone loss.
   
   Spotlight statistic: Individuals who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to report having periodontal (gum) disease compared to those who do not smoke or use other nicotine products.
    
2. Addressing the Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the US (May)
   
   Disparities in oral health particularly impact communities of Latinos, who now represent nearly 19% of the US population. In this comprehensive two-part white paper, the Hispanic Dental Association, in partnership with CareQuest Institute, identifies several key policies that can improve oral health and reduce inequalities among Hispanics in the US. The report also analyzes the use of dental services and evaluates Hispanic representation within the dental workforce.

   

   
   
   Spotlight statistic: On average, less than half of Hispanic children from 12 to 19 years of age had one or more dental sealants, with few racial/ethnic differences.
    
3. Dental Danger: Home Remedies to Avoid When Awaiting Care (May)
   
   This visual report finds that half of adults who experienced an oral health problem in the last 12 months used a home remedy for the problem — a decision that isn’t always safe. Some of the dangerous home remedies included pain medication prescribed for another purpose, illegal narcotics, a needle to lance a gum abscess, and alcohol. The report emphasizes the importance of having a regular dentist for ongoing prevention and treatment, so patients don’t turn to these potentially harmful solutions to treat tooth pain.
   
   Spotlight statistic: Individuals who identified as Black (62.4%) or as two or more races/ethnicities (60.0%) reported that they used a home remedy for oral health symptoms more often than individuals identifying as white (49.5%), Hispanic (45.5%), Asian (42.9%), or “other” (47.6%).
    
4. Addressing the Role of Oral Health in Maternal Mortality and Pregnancy Outcomes (April)
   
   Both maternal mortality and preterm birth rates have increased in the United States during the last three years. Even more alarming, those rates are especially high for people of color. In this visual report, CareQuest Institute examines the worsening state of maternal and infant health in the US, highlighting the importance of communication between dentists and patients regarding oral health risks during pregnancy.

   

   
   
   Spotlight statistic: Black women with a completed college education or higher have maternal mortality rates 1.6 times that of white women with a high school degree or less experience.
   
   5. American Indian and Alaska Native Communities Face a “Disproportionate Burden of Oral Disease” (March)
   
   The prevalence of early childhood caries in AI/AN communities is three times higher than for white children — just one stark finding from this white paper. The white paper, a collaboration between CareQuest Institute and native-led organizations based on data from the State of Oral Health Equity in America survey, explores ongoing disparities, their causes, and possible solutions. Those solutions, the authors write, must be grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
   
   Spotlight statistic: Three and a half times as many people who identify as AI/AN report going to the emergency department for dental care or mouth pain in the last year (13.5%) compared with those who do not identify as AI/AN (3.9%).

To explore other reports, white papers, poster presentations, and infographics on topics ranging from medical-dental integration to minimally invasive care, visit our Resource Library.