In the News

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...

Here are six recent updates that have led to optimism and skepticism in the dental industry: Artificial intelligence innovation  AI companies are continuing to expand ways for their technology to be used in dental practices, and industry leaders are expecting AI to soon change how every task is completed. Earlier this year, Alta AI launched a...

This week the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and CareQuest Institute for Oral Health announced the launch of the Dental Hygienist Licensure Map, an interactive resource that provides state-by-state licensure information for dental hygienists across the United States. The tool consolidates previously scattered information into...

It’s been one month since Florida banned fluoride in its drinking water. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill earlier this summer that outlawed water facilities from adding water quality additives such as fluoride. Coincidentally, the day before Florida’s ban went into effect, Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, reintroduced fluoride to its water after...

At a time when states like Utah have stopped adding fluoride to public water systems, 81% of adults in the U.S. report supporting or not being opposed to community water fluoridation, according to a report from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. Only 6% of adults polled supported a complete ban on water fluoridation, according to the...