In the News

Hugh J. Silk wishes he had a time machine. If he did, he’d go back to the year 1840 and persuade the staff at what is now the University of Maryland School of Medicine to accept a recommendation to include dental instruction in their curriculum. Instead, the medical school rejected the idea — and the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, the...

In the United Kingdom, reports of people resorting to DIY dentistry — pulling teeth at home, gluing broken fillings, or leaving cavities untreated — have become alarmingly common. A British Dental Association survey found 82% of UK dentists have treated patients who attempted self-care since lockdown, a pattern tied to access gaps and the rise...

A few months ago, Oklahoma officials removed the state’s recommendation for fluoride in drinking water as part of the "Make Oklahoma Healthy Again" campaign, which was announced alongside the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But according to a recent report, ending community water fluoridation could come with a hefty cost. Data from...

The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health has appointed Wade Rakes, MBA, as its new CEO to lead strategy, philanthropic investments, dental insurance services, and initiatives to improve access to care. Previously, Rakes served as chief growth officer at Centene Corporation and president and CEO of Peach State Health Plan. Additionally, he has...

Armed with new data that show nearly $1 billion was spent on dental emergency room and hospital charges in 2024, a wide coalition of health care advocates is pushing the Legislature to approve a new mid-level dental health care provider known as dental therapists. Floridians for Dental Access is an effort led by Dr. Frank Catalanotto and it’s...

The state of your gums and teeth can impact your risk for various health conditions—and vice-versa. Here’s how to protect yourself. Our oral health care is under attack. Whether it’s bans on fluoride in public water, cuts to Medicaid, or the elimination of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s entire Division of Oral Health, experts...

A new study coauthored by ADA President Dr. Brett Kessler warns that ending community water fluoridation in the US could trigger a nationwide oral health crisis—costing billions and disproportionately harming low-income children. Findings from a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) coauthored by ADA president Brett...

Ohio kids on Medicaid are nearly twice as likely as kids nationwide to go to the emergency department for preventable dental issues, like cavities or tooth decay. The problem is especially acute in rural and poor parts of the state, where dentist shortages make it harder for children to get regular care. To address that issue, CareQuest...

Denise Marks is the CFO of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system. The organization does this through its work in grantmaking, research, health improvement programs, education, advocacy, and innovation. The organization...

In this episode, Matt Steele, Director of State and Local Advocacy at CareQuest, discusses the impact of upcoming Medicaid changes, the importance of community water fluoridation, and strategies for ensuring vulnerable populations maintain access to essential dental care. Listen to this episode...

"The removal of access to fluoride, coupled with Congress’s cuts to Medicaid, will strip away vital protections for those most at risk." In this article from STAT, CareQuest Institute Senior Director of Public Policy Melissa Burroughs is calling on the administration to take three critical steps to reverse the oral health crisis in the US....

Alaska Medicaid providers are preparing for increased demand for dental care after the federal budget passage earlier this year, Alaska’s News Source reported Aug. 19. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law July 4, is expected to lead to a decrease in Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion. The legislation has been...