Inequities in Access to Dental Care and Consequences of These Inequities for the Dental Health of Children and Youth

Oral health is an integral yet often neglected aspect of overall health, especially in relation to children and adolescents. Although modern technology in dentistry, along with adequate preventative care, has improved significantly, substantial inequalities in accessing dental care continue to exist within the United States among various strata of society. The purpose of this paper is to present a narrative review on peer-reviewed literature as well as public health reports on the topics of socioeconomic status, insurance, parental education, and the geographic location of providers in relation to the disparities in the outcomes of oral health in children and adolescents.

Through an analysis of peer-reviewed literature and public health reports, this paper contends that vulnerable groups with lower incomes and those lacking insurance coverage continue to have higher rates of unresolved dental diseases, poor preventative care, and adverse long-term effects on both health and social behavior. The literature suggests that structural and policy-level factors play a significant role in shaping access to dental care, though individual and behavioral factors may also contribute.