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An issue that few have identified, however, is that about 14.2 million people, or 28% of adults currently enrolled in Medicaid, will also lose their dental health coverage, according to the data compiled by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a think tank dedicated to oral health in the country.

A recent report from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health shows that the maternal health crisis is actually worsening.

In another study, published in April, scientists found that diabetics who were treated for periodontal disease saw their overall health care costs decrease by 12 to 14 percent. Read the full article. 

The situation was outlined in a report compiled by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a nonprofit group based in Boston, in collaboration with the Society of American Indian Dentists, the National Indian Health Board and Southern Plains Tribal Health Board.

A white paper recently published by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, Society of American Indian Dentists, and National Indian Health Board’s Tribal Oral Health Initiative shows that American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities suffer greatly when it comes to oral health. The paper “American Indian and Alaska Native Communities Face a ‘Disproportionate Burden of Oral Disease’” also provides recommendations on how oral health disparities in these communities can best be alleviated. Some of the findings include:

A white paper recently published by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, Society of American Indian Dentists, and National Indian Health Board’s Tribal Oral Health Initiative shows that American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities suffer greatly when it comes to oral health. The paper “American Indian and Alaska Native Communities Face a ‘Disproportionate Burden of Oral Disease’” also provides recommendations on how oral health disparities in these communities can best be alleviated. Some of the findings include:

Many Americans pay out of pocket to cover dental costs — or avoid dental care altogether. Nearly 80 million Americans don’t have dental insurance, according to a 2022 report by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health(opens in new tab). And in 2022, more adults identified cost as a reason they are likely to avoid dental care altogether (43%) than in 2021 (38%), the report says. 

The white paper, written by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, the Society of American Indian Dentists, and the National Indian Health Board’s Tribal Oral Health Initiate, includes findings from a new State of Oral Health Equity in America survey that included data from more than 550 American Indian and Alaska Native respondents.

The symposium, "Assessing Oral Health Disparities Through a Nationally Representative Survey," included presentations by Adrianna Sonnek, Rebecca Preston, of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Presenters analyzed findings regarding how oral health disparities affect several underserved and underrepresented sociodemographic groups as demonstrated by data from the nationally representative 2023 State of Oral Health Equity in America survey from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. The symposium took place on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

At CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, we have challenged ourselves to reevaluate our philosophy and our approach to grantmaking.