In the News

Oral health nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health has proudly announced its rewarding of over $2.3 million in grant funds to various equity projects across the U.S. Organizations in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Texas, and Vermont have received funding for projects that aim to make oral health care more accessible, according to Director of Grants and Programs at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Trenae Simpson.

The correlation between poor dental health and poverty cannot be overlooked. Just last year, this “neglected epidemic” saw nearly 69 million U.S. adults without dental insurance, according to a survey by the nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, president and CEO of Boston's CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, echoed Simon's statements. She added that because of Medicare's current guidelines, around 25 million older Americans and people with disabilities have no dental benefits. "There is currently no financial support for adults to purchase dental insurance through [the Affordable Care Act's] Health Insurance Marketplace," Minter-Jordan said. "And adult dental coverage is optional under state Medicaid programs, which means that coverage varies widely from extensive benefits to none at all."

According to the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, nearly 69 million adults did not have dental insurance or access to routine oral health care last year.

Dr Myechia Minter-Jordan, President and CEO of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, also testified, highlighting the stark reality that nearly 70 million adults and nearly 8 million children in the U.S. lack dental insurance. This coverage gap exacerbates the oral health crisis, leading many to forgo essential dental care. “It’s up to all of us to create a more accessible, equitable, and integrated health care system that includes oral health.” Dr Minter-Jordan said during the hearing.

Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill May 17 to expand dental care coverage for veterans and low-income individuals as well as increase the oral healthcare workforce. The legislation has been endorsed by several organizations, including the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

In a landmark hearing before the Senate HELP Committee, led by Chairman Bernie Sanders and ranking member Bill Cassidy, oral health stakeholders and dental professionals delivered compelling testimony on the staggering disparities in dental care accessibility and affordability across America. Speakers, which included Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, president, and CEO of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.

This bill is cosponsored by Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, and is endorsed by Families USA, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, and Community Catalyst. To learn more about the bill, the HELP Committee, or to read the legislation, visit here.

The numbers are staggering: nearly 69 million United States adults lacked dental insurance or access to routine oral health care last year, according to a survey by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. This issue has been exacerbated by the rollback of Medicaid expansions post-COVID-19.

The deficit in dental coverage is immense: nearly 69 million U.S. adults did not have dental insurance or access to routine oral health care last year, according to a survey by the nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Millions more lost dental insurance last year when states began to unwind Medicaid coverage for people who signed up during the COVID-19 pandemic.