1 in 3 young adults skip the dentist.
Nearly one-third of young adults skipped dental visits in the past year, highlighting broader health access issues.
Why it matters
- Regular dental checkups are vital for overall health.
- Skipping dental visits can lead to future health problems.
- Highlights the gap in dental care coverage and access.
By the numbers
- Nearly 1 in 3 young adults (18-35) skipped dental visits in the past year.
- Study analyzed data from nearly 128,000 adults.
The big picture
- Young adults face barriers like cost, lack of insurance, and mental health issues.
- Older adults have more disabilities but better insurance coverage.
- Need to integrate dental care into overall health care.
What they're saying
- Comments highlight inadequate dental insurance and high out-of-pocket costs.
- There's a call for better integration of dental care with general health care.
Caveats
- Study is based on self-reported data.
- Observational study, so causality cannot be established.
What’s next
- Policy changes to integrate dental care into overall health care.
- Tailored interventions for different age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.