Millions in U.S. Lack Access to Dentists Study Shows Geography,
Economics, and Shortage of Dentists Limit Dental Care By Salynn
Boyles WebMD Health News Reviewed By Laura J. Martin, MD July
13, 2011 -- Fewer than half of Americans see a dentist each year
and millions live in areas where access to dental care is
severely limited, a new analysis from the health policy group
Institute of Medicine (IOM) finds. A severe shortage of
dentists, especially those serving rural and minority groups, is
contributing to the "persistent and systemic" barriers to oral
health care, the report noted. According to the report: - 33
million Americans live in areas that are underserved by dental
health professionals. - 4.6 million children went without dental
checkups in 2008 because their families could not afford them. -
In 2006, almost two-thirds of retirees (62%) did not have
adequate dental coverage. The IOM committee concluded that
around 9,600 additional dentists would be needed to meet the
needs of underserved populations