The High Cost of Dental Care: Statistics & Impact on Low-Income Families

The High Cost of Dental Care: A Barrier for Low-Income Individuals and Families

Dental treatments are often expensive, creating significant barriers for low-income individuals and families seeking necessary oral healthcare. Numerous studies and reports highlight the financial burden of dental care in the United States.

Here's a look at the data:

1. Average Annual Dental Costs:

• The National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) reported that the average annual cost of dental care per person in the United States is $685, including preventive, diagnostic, and restorative services. (Source: NADP's 'The Haves and the Have-Nots: Consumers with and without Dental Benefits' (2019)).

2. Cost as a Barrier to Dental Visits:

• A 2016 study in Health Affairs found that approximately 13% of adults in the U.S. reported not visiting a dentist due to cost. This percentage rose to a staggering 40% among low-income adults. (Source: Health Affairs' 'Oral Health Coverage and Access to Dental Care for Adults in Medicaid Expansion and Non-Expansion States' (2018)).

3. Cost as the Primary Reason for Forgoing Treatment:

• The American Dental Association (ADA) found that the cost of dental care is the primary reason why adults forgo treatment. Their survey revealed that 44% of low-income adults and 56% of adults without dental insurance cited cost as the main barrier to receiving dental care. (Source: ADA's 'Breaking Down Barriers to Oral Health for All Americans: Repairing the Tattered Safety Net' (2018)).

4. Untreated Dental Issues and Income Levels:

• The Kaiser Family Foundation reported in 2019 that 35% of adults with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level had untreated dental issues. This starkly contrasts with only 7% of adults with incomes above 200% of the poverty level experiencing the same issue. (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation's 'Oral Health in Rural Communities' (2020)).

The data clearly demonstrates that dental treatments are often cost-prohibitive for low-income individuals and families, leading to disparities in access to care and potentially impacting overall health outcomes.