Adults with disabilities face significant barriers to accessing oral health care and are at greater risk for poor oral health, according to new data released by the CareQuest Oral Health Institute.
The data comes from the annual State of Oral Health Equity in America (SOHEA) survey – the largest nationally representative survey focusing on adults’ attitudes, experiences and behaviors related to oral health.
The report findings show that for adults reporting at least one disability, factors such as income, education and dental insurance are often associated with oral health outcomes such as self-rated oral health, recency of last dental visit, availability of a dental office and visits to the emergency department (ED) for dental care.
“People with disabilities deserve a fundamental right to get the care they need, yet they continue to face significant barriers to adequate dental care,” said Melissa Burroughs, director of public policy at the CareQuest Oral Health Institute. “This report provides us with actionable insights that can help guide our efforts to reduce inequities and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.”
The report findings show:
Fewer adults with disabilities (56%) than adults without disabilities (70%) reported having seen a dental visit in the past 12 months.
Nearly one-third of adults with disabilities say their dental office does not provide special assistance and/or accommodations for their dental visits.
Adults with disabilities are less likely to have dental insurance (66%) than those without dental insurance (76%).
One-quarter of adults with disabilities (25%) say they have delayed care, missed an appointment, or have been unable to get needed health care, including oral health care.
Compared to adults without disabilities, adults with disabilities are significantly more likely to report fair/poor oral health.
More adults with disabilities visit emergency departments for dental care than adults without disabilities.
To improve access to oral health care for people with disabilities, the report recommends strengthening Medicare and Medicaid coverage of adult dental care, providing additional training for providers who treat people with disabilities, and integrating medical and dental care with specialty oral care.
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