A Focus on Improving Access to Dental Care

Pew Charitable Trusts reports efforts are being made at the federal level to improve Americans’ access to oral care. Such efforts include the recent adoption of the Action for Dental Health Act of 2018, which will help improve access to oral health services for underserved communities.

The December White House report on health reform calls for states to consider authorizing dental therapists and to remove restrictive supervision requirements on dental hygienists. These steps will help improve access to routine dental care.

For a new report on oral health to be released in 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research are soliciting stakeholder input on the upcoming Surgeon General’s report on oral health. A webinar will be held at 12 pm EST, January 10, 2019, to update the public on the status and gather public input.