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

Reduce the proportion of people who can't get the dental care they need when they need it — AHS‑05

Status: Target met or exceeded

  
Target met or exceeded
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Most Recent Data:
17.8 percent (2023)

Target:
19.4 percent 1

Desired Direction:
Decrease desired

Baseline:
20.2 percent of persons were unable to obtain or delayed in obtaining necessary dental care due to cost in 2019 2

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Reduce the proportion of people who can't get the dental care they need when they need it

Target-Setting Method
Minimal statistical significance

Data Source:  National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS

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Summary

Delaying dental care can cause serious oral health problems. Reasons for delaying or not getting dental care include high costs, lack of insurance or access to services, and fear and anxiety. Interventions to increase dental insurance coverage rates, reduce dental care anxiety, and strengthen the oral health workforce are important for helping people get dental care.

Topics:  Health Care Access and Quality, Health Care, Oral Conditions

Workgroup: Access to Health Services Workgroup

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1. Target has been revised. See Data Methodology and Measurement for more information.

2. Baseline has been revised. See Data Methodology and Measurement for more information.