4 in 10 Adults Living in Rural Environments Have Not Visited the Dentist in More Than a Year

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system, released a new report detailing the causes of worsening oral health access and outcomes for rural populations in comparison with their urban and suburban counterparts.

The report reveals that four in 10 adults living in rural environments (40%) have not visited the dentist in more than one year, compared with 35% of urban and 30% of suburban residents. Among the most significant challenges preventing people living in rural areas from receiving adequate oral health care are provider shortages, lack of insurance coverage, and transportation barriers.

“This new report underscores the importance of our mission to advance oral health access and equity for all people living and working in the US,” stated Kaz Rafia, Chief Health Equity Officer and Executive Vice President at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. “Oral health is more than just a health issue, it’s an equity issue impacting people of all backgrounds, economic statuses, and geographic locations. We must continue to collect data, share our findings, and advance policies and practices that guide these populations to adequate care and better health.”

Other key findings summarized in the “Still Searching: Meeting Oral Health Needs in Rural Settings” report include:

• 34% of individuals living in a rural environment rate their oral health as fair or poor, compared with 27% of urban residents and 24% of suburban residents.
• 67% of rural areas are Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
• Just over one-third of rural residents (34%) do not have dental insurance coverage, compared to 29% of urban and 24% of suburban residents. Employers in rural areas are less likely to offer dental insurance than employers in more populated areas.

In response to these challenges, the report recommends ways to mitigate barriers to access for approximately 46 million people who reside in rural areas. These strategies include teledentistry, expanding dental coverage and the dental workforce, and medical-dental integration.

The findings of this report are based on responses to the 2023 State of Oral Health Equity in America survey, the largest nationally representative, annual survey focused exclusively on adults’ knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and behaviors related to oral health.

Read the full report.

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 philanthropy, analytics and data insights, health transformation, policy and advocacy, and education as well as our leadership in dental benefits 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. To learn more, visit carequest.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

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