About 108 million people in the U.S. have no dental insurance. Even those who are covered may have trouble getting care.

Resources

Dental Sealants: A Resource Guide(3rd Ed.). Learn about the prevention of dental caries through the use of dental sealants.

 

Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. A silent epidemic of oral diseases is affecting our most vulnerable citizens—poor children, the elderly, and many members of racial and ethnic minority groups. 

Where We Are

The U.S. has about 141,800 working dentists and 174,100 dental hygienists, but 4,230 Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas with 49 million people living in them.

Anyone who has ever had a toothache knows dental pain can make it impossible to work, study or just carry on the normal activities of daily life. Oral health problems seldom get better on their own and can be both a sign and a cause of disease elsewhere in the body.

The U.S. spends about $64 billion each year on oral health care -- just 4 percent is paid by Government programs.

Where We're Going

To improve the oral health of underserved people, Dental Health Services is exploring ways to improve access to oral health care, increase awareness of the connection between oral health and overall health, promote prevention, and improve oral health literacy to health providers and patients alike.