ADA Health Policy Institute releases 2024 study on care, coverage, and cost

October 16, 2024

Using the latest data from Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), HPI has just released its annual update on trends in dental care utilization, dental insurance coverage and cost barriers to care among the U.S. population through a series of easy-to-read graphs.

Breakdowns by population age, race/ethnicity, income level and insurance type are included.

Among key findings:

  • Forty-five percent of the U.S. population saw a dentist in 2022. While over half of seniors and children had a dental visit that year, only 40 percent of working-age adults did.
  •  Eight percent of children did not have dental coverage, the lowest level in the last two decades.
  • Dental care continues to pose the highest cost barriers when compared to other health services such as medical, prescription drugs and mental health.
  • Disparities in dental care utilization and cost barriers to dental care have remained largely steady over two decades, especially among working-age adults, seniors, people of lower income groups and certain racial/ethnic groups.

Find the full report here at ada.org.

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About Billy Tarpley


Served as chief lobbyist for the dental association, which was established in 1887. Oversees all legal and regulatory matters, as well as publications, continuing dental education, conference planning and governance activities. Between 2005 and 2009, spent 4 years as Director of Development at Henderson State University (alma mater), but returned to the association in 2009.


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