Dental News - New risk of dental caries in the US

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 23 April 2025

save

LEIPZIG, Germany: Rural communities across the US are facing a growing oral health crisis as access to fluoridated water and dental care diminishes. This dual challenge threatens to reverse decades of progress in preventing dental caries, particularly among children and low-income families.

Water fluoridation has been implemented since the mid-twentieth century and has been instrumental in reducing caries by approximately 25% in both children and adults. However, concerns over potential health risks have led to the cessation of fluoridation in some communities. Public health experts warn that such decisions could disproportionately affect underserved populations who rely on fluoridated water as a primary means of caries prevention.

Compounding the issue is the shortage of dental professionals in rural areas. Many counties lack sufficient dental providers, and some have none who accept Medicaid, leaving residents with limited options for oral health services. This scarcity forces individuals to travel long distances for care or forego it altogether, leading to untreated dental issues and increased health disparities.

The erosion of Medicaid support will further exacerbate the problem and stands to have a severe impact on dental care. Proposed federal budget cuts threaten to reduce funding for dental services, making it even more challenging for low-income families to access necessary care. Without adequate insurance coverage, preventive treatments and routine check-ups become financially out of reach for many.

Efforts to address these challenges include treatment with silver diamine fluoride to halt caries, a particularly useful alternative for patients who cannot easily access traditional dental services. Additionally, some states are exploring the use of dental therapists to provide basic care in underserved areas, aiming to bridge the gap in provider availability.

Despite these initiatives, the combination of reduced water fluoridation, a limited dental workforce and potential Medicaid cuts poses a significant threat to oral health in rural America. Public health officials emphasise the need for comprehensive strategies to ensure that all communities have access to essential dental care and preventive measures.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Oral cancer on the rise in the US; Americans unaware of major risk factors

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., USA: New research conducted on behalf of the Oral Cancer Foundation has found that many Americans are unaware of the fact that the ...

Global trends in dental imaging: The rise of digital

The rapid emergence of digital technology for capturing intraoral X-ray images is a global trend and is driving growth in the overall dental imaging market....

New clinical practice guideline on caries restorations now available

CHICAGO, US: To improve the clinical decision-making of dentists, the American Dental Association (ADA) has recently released a new clinical practice ...

Gene combination identified as risk factor in success of dental implants

NEW YORK, NY, USA: The health of the surrounding tissue affects the success of a dental implant. Identifying and reducing risk factors is therefore a key ...

Only in New York City, ‘The Capital of the World’: The Greater New York Dental Meeting

NEW YORK, NY, USA: The largest dental and health care convention in United States invites you to the Greater New York Dental Meeting, Nov. 25–30. With...

New Quick Up method eliminates risk of accidental locking of dentures, cuts procedure time in half

Millions of Americans wear dentures. Unfortunately, the majority of denture wearers are dissatisfied with their prosthesis — their chief complaints ...

Teaching residents to act morally in the presence of risk

As Rushworth Kidder (2006) suggested, moral courage bridges talking ethically and performing ethically. Although Kidder’s book is meant for everyone, ...

Study identifies new bacterial species involved in dental caries formation

PHILADELPHIA, US: It was previously believed that Streptococcus mutans was the main microorganism responsible for dental caries. However, in a recent study,...

MIS LYNX all-in-one premium dental implant launched in the US

CHARLOTTE, N.C., US: Dentsply Sirona has announced the US market launch of MIS LYNX, a cost-effective dental implant solution designed by MIS Implants ...