Editorial
Taking a Stand on Oral Health Equity Data Show Oral Health Care System Falls Short of Meeting Needs of Entire Population
Cesar R. Sabates, DDS, FACD President, American Dental Association
Something all dentists can agree upon is that oral health is integral to overall health. However, access to dental care is often a challenge for many Americans, especially for historically marginalized populations like older adults, racially and ethnically diverse communities and those from low-income households. This is mainly due to barriers such as lack of dental insurance coverage, limited geographic access to quality care (i.e., rural communities with minimal or no access to public transportation) or the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) which include health literacy and educational levels. Addressing these barriers is key to ensuring that everyone can receive optimal quality and affordable health care.
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2022 Volume 89, Number 2
