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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase use of the oral health care system — OH‑08 Infographic

This objective is a Leading Health Indicator (LHI). Learn about LHIs.

Status: Target met or exceeded

  Target met or exceeded

Most Recent Data:
46.2 percent (2018) *

Target:
45.0 percent *

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

Baseline:
43.3 percent of children, adolescents, and adults used the oral health care system in 2016 *

* Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.

Oral health is important to overall health and plays a critical role in people’s physical, mental, social, and economic well-being. Access to preventive health care, like cleanings and dental checkups, and early treatment for dental problems is essential to good oral health. Cost and lack of dental insurance are barriers to accessing oral health care. Laws and policies that lower financial barriers to care may increase use of the oral health care system.

In 2017, 43.9 percent of children, adolescents, and adults used the oral health care system. *

Data Source:  Medical Expenditure Panel (MEPS), AHRQ

Disparities in rates of use of the oral health care system by educational attainment (for adults aged 25 years and over): Highest/lowest rate * ‡

In 2017, adults aged 25 years and over with less than a high school education had the lowest group rate of use of the oral health care system (19.1 percent). Adults with some college education or an associate degree (reference group) had the highest group rate (53.8 percent).

The rate of use of the oral health care system among adults with some college education or an associate degree was more than 2.5 times the rate among adults with less than a high school education (maximal rate ratio). The difference between the highest and lowest group rates was 34.8 percentage points (maximal rate difference).

Learn about how we calculate disparities data.

Disparities in rates of use of the oral health care system by educational attainment (for adults aged 25 years and over): All groups * ‡

In 2017, adults aged 25 years and over with some college education or an associate degree had the highest group rate of use of the oral health care system (53.8 percent).

  • The highest group rate was 64.0 percent higher than the rate of use among adults with a high school education.
  • The highest group rate was more than 2.5 times the rate of use among adults with less than a high school education.

Percentage of people who used the oral health care system, 2017 *

53.8% Adults with some college education or an associate degree
32.8% Adults with a high school education
19.1% Adults with less than a high school education

Find data for additional demographic groups.