Health Affairs March 31, 2025
Oral disease is common among US adults older than age 65, with 20 percent having untreated cavities and nearly 70 percent experiencing gum disease. Poor oral health is linked to conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s, while issues such as tooth loss and dental pain can impair nutrition, speech, and self-esteem, contributing to social isolation and loneliness. Access to dental insurance for older adults is limited, as most dental services are excluded from Medicare Parts A and B. This disproportionately affects communities of color; nearly half of all Medicare beneficiaries—and more than two-thirds of Black beneficiaries—did not visit the dentist in the past year.
Although there have been policy attempts to change this, the exclusion of oral health...
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