Attending the dentist is a very important part of looking after our overall health and wellbeing. But some barriers exist, making it difficult for some people to access dental care. New research suggests that a worrying number of young adults are avoiding the dentist, which has led to calls for improved public health initiatives.
Looking after our oral health is crucial. It contributes towards our overall health and wellbeing. A key part of looking after our oral health is attending regular check-ups at a dental clinic.
However, in concerning news, recent research has discovered that almost a third of American young adults have skipped visits to the dentist in the last 12 months [1].
This is very worrying, as poor oral health can result in a range of problems. This includes health challenges for the population, as well as economic and health system pressures.
Background
The research was based in the United States. While there are plenty of medical facilities in the US, not everyone has access to them.
Dental care in the United States is largely excluded from medical health insurance coverage, which impacts access to dentistry.
There are also cost implications too. Research suggests that up to 46% of American adults delay or forgo dental treatment due to cost [2].
Other issues include a lack of transport, mobility difficulties, fear of the dentist, and poor awareness of the importance of the dentist.
The Research
The research was carried out by a team from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Their findings have been published in Frontiers in Oral Health [1].
This was the first research study to compare people’s social and economic circumstances, access to dental care, and self-reported health challenges across various age groups [1].
To do this, the researchers analyzed health, demographic, and dental data from almost 128,000 adults in the National Institutes of Health’s ‘All of Us’ program [1].
The researchers wanted to analyze how physical problems and mental health issues reported by people from different socioeconomic backgrounds varied depending on three factors – whether or not they had visited a dentist in the past year, their income, and their age [1].
A detailed data analysis took place. This allowed the researchers to make conclusions on the impact each factor had. Therefore, this allowed them to produce key findings.
The most important finding was that almost one in three young adults skipped the dentist in the last year [1]. This group were likelier to be renters, uninsured, and racially diverse.
Moreover, young adults who missed dental visits were also likelier to skip medical care, struggle with copays, rely on emergency care, and report mental health problems [1]. Evidently, this presents multiple problems.
Other age-based findings were made. Those aged 66 and over reported more disabilities, although they were likelier to have insurance and own their own home [1].
Among older adults who did skip dental visits, they typically reported difficulty in walking, bathing, and running errands [1]. This may explain their avoidance of the dentist. The researchers noted that improved transportation could assist with this.
Across all age groups, those who skipped the dentist presented with lower income, more disabilities, and heightened housing instability than those who didn’t skip the dentist.
Summary
The findings demonstrate that there are a sizeable number of people skipping the dentist, especially among younger people. This is very concerning.
But there are many factors at play, with the researchers finding that income, mental health problems, disabilities, housing, access to healthcare, and social elements all play a role [1].
Lead author Yau-Hua Yu is an Associate Professor of Periodontology at the School of Dental Medicine. She confirmed that “young adults, aged 18 to 35 years old, were the most likely to report not having visited a dentist within the past 12 months” – something she said “is very troubling” [3].
The researchers also pointed out that dental checkups do not always feature in public health initiatives that promote preventative care for all areas of health [1].
For example, several public health initiatives remind us of eating healthily, exercising regularly, and avoiding tobacco and illicit drugs. However, it is rare to see widespread dental public initiatives.
Yu and her colleagues suggested that the findings underline the “urgent need to integrate dental care into overall healthcare” [3]. This integration could result in improved rates of visits to the dentist.
Additionally, Yu noted that “interventions must be tailored not only to income, but to life stage and cumulative disadvantage” – thereby considering the other factors highlighted in the research.
Dental care is available, but clearly there are a range of factors that need to be considered. The hope is that improved public health initiatives could result in improved awareness of the importance of oral health and an increase in dental clinic visits going forward.
Thinking points…
[1] As mentioned above, attending regular dental appointments is very important. At a dental appointment, a dentist can examine your mouth, including both the teeth and gums. They can provide advice, suggest treatment if needed, and answer any of your questions. You should visit the dentist at least once every six months. We recommend booking an appointment now!
[2] As discussed earlier, while there are many barriers affecting access to dental care, cost is an important consideration for many. However, here at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental, our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. Therefore, our prices are fully transparent, competitive and reliable. To find out more about us, you can visit our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/ – we hope to see you at our Calgary dental clinic soon!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Yu, Y-H. (2025). Access to oral health care and its social determinants across the lifespan in the United States. Frontiers in Oral Health. 6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2025.1619983.
[2] Conexiant News Staff. (2023). Americans May Forgo Dental Treatments Due to Cost, Risking Overall Health, New Synchrony Research Reveals. Available: https://insidedentistry.net/news/?newsID=84788. Last accessed: 25th September 2025.
[3] Tufts University. (2025). One in three young adults skip the dentist, and that’s a problem. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-young-adults-dentist-problem.html. Last accessed: 25th September 2025.
