Major National Survey Reveals Impending Spike in Oral Health Needs

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, survey finds 6 million people have lost oral health coverage because of COVID-19 pandemic

Uncovering a potential surge in upcoming health needs, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health today released the first in a series of reports that will provide in-depth analysis of the results of a comprehensive national survey aimed at understanding oral health equity in the US. The report released today, “A Coming Surge in Oral Health Treatment Needs,” looks specifically at the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our oral health and overall health systems. 

The findings of the survey of more than 5,000 Americans indicate that the nation’s health system, including hospitals and ambulatory care centers, should expect a significant spike in the need to treat oral disease and address its impact on overall health. The report cites lack of dental benefits due to job loss, delays in care due to cost of care, and concerns about exposure to the coronavirus as major contributors to the anticipated surge in oral health treatment needs. 

“As we emerge from the depth of the pandemic, we expect to confront an additional challenge caused by the untreated health needs of so many people, particularly among historically marginalized communities,” said Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, president and CEO of CareQuest Institute. “Our survey shows that millions of people have lost coverage and delayed care during the pandemic, and many are already showing signs of oral health disease. This will impact all of us because of the potential this surge has to further strain our health care system. We know poor oral health has a direct tie to poor overall health. At the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, we are putting everything we have — our research, grants, advocacy, education, and health improvement programs — to address this crisis and build a health system that works for everyone.”

Based on the survey results, report authors found that an estimated 6 million adults in the US have lost dental insurance as a result of losing their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those surveyed who identified the pandemic as the reason for losing dental insurance, 65% reported having an oral health symptom that often stems from a disease affecting teeth, gums, or other tissues in the oral cavity. Additionally, an estimated 28 million adults have delayed getting dental care because of one or more concerns, including the cost of care, lack of insurance, or concerns about risk of exposure to the virus. This suggests that lack of dental coverage and inaccessibility of affordable care is further fueling the ongoing oral health crisis in the US.

Research has shown that adults who lack coverage for preventive or restorative dental care often put off care until pain prompts them to visit a hospital emergency department. These visits are expensive — costing $2.7 billion in 2017 — and rarely address the root cause because emergency departments are not equipped to properly treat oral disease.

More than one-third (35%) of adults surveyed said they have at least one chronic health condition, and 68% of this group also reported an unaddressed oral health symptom. Nearly 58% of this group had not sought care for their oral health symptom. Given the link between oral health and a variety of chronic health conditions, the anticipated rise in oral diseases has serious implications for the broader health care system and the overall health of the population.

“This report should serve as notice to the health care provider community that as the pandemic recedes, the health system could face a tsunami of patients with severe health issues that have gone untreated over the last year,” said Dr. Minter-Jordan. “This increased need for care will consist of a disproportionate share of individuals from historically marginalized communities seeking care from places like emergency departments that are ill equipped to address their oral health needs. When a lack of insurance, cost barriers, and other access issues prevent millions of Americans from receiving basic oral health care, there is no question that our system does not work for everyone.”

Like the COVID-19 pandemic, the oral health crisis is disproportionately impacting communities of color, those living in rural communities, people with disabilities, older adults, and other historically marginalized groups. According to the survey, Black Americans suffered a loss of dental coverage at a rate that was more than double that of white Americans, while 19% of Asian Americans lost dental insurance, a rate three times that of white Americans. Asian Americans also reported the highest loss of medical insurance, with 35% having lost this coverage during the pandemic.

While the new data illustrate the compounding effects of the pandemic on disparities in health, these disparities are not new. Prior research has shown that Americans in poverty are 2.5 times more likely to have an unmet dental need due to lack of insurance. Black adults are 68% more likely to have an unmet dental need than white adults, and nearly 4 in 10 Black and Latinx adults reside in 14 states where Medicaid’s adult dental benefits cover no services or emergency-only care.

Additional reports in this series will similarly include actionable insights based on the results of the national survey and will be released in the coming weeks and months. The survey — State of Oral Health Equity in America — will be conducted on an annual basis. Taken together, the reports will allow health professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders to better understand the state of oral health equity in the US and drive progress in eliminating barriers to excellent health for everyone.

Survey methodology
State of Oral Health Equity in America 2021 is a nationally representative survey of consumer and patient attitudes, experiences, and behaviors on oral health. Survey data was collected in January and February 2021 on adults 18 and older by the National Opinion Research Center on the AmeriSpeaks panel. Amerispeaks is a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the US household population. Randomly selected US households were sampled using area probability and address-based sampling, with a known, non-zero probability of selection from NORC National Sample Frame. Sampled households were contacted by US mail, telephone, and field interviewers. A sampling unit of 16,986 was used with a final sample size of 5,320, with a final weighted cumulative response rate of 5.2%. All data presented account for appropriate sample weights.

About CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health is a national nonprofit championing a more equitable future where every person can reach their full potential through excellent health. We do this through our work in grantmaking, research, health improvement programs, policy and advocacy, and education as well as our leadership in dental benefits, care delivery, and innovation advancements. We collaborate with thought leaders, health care providers, patients, and local, state, and federal stakeholders to accelerate oral health care transformation and create a system designed for everyone. 

Direct Media Inquiries to:
Kristin LaRoche
klaroche@carequest.org
857-275-5038