A recent study reveals that racial disparities in dental care affordability are contributing to serious oral health inequities in the United States. Among non-Hispanic Black adults, 21.03% reported being unable to afford needed dental care—nearly triple the rate of those at higher income levels. Mexican American and other Hispanic adults followed closely at 20.12%, underscoring the disproportionate burden faced by communities of color.
These affordability barriers translate into worse health outcomes. Adults who couldn’t afford care were more than three times as likely to have untreated tooth decay and over four times more likely to suffer root caries. They also had higher DMFT scores—indicating more decayed and missing teeth—and fewer filled teeth, suggesting limited access to restorative treatment.
The study highlights income as a major factor, with 31.03% of adults living below the federal poverty level unable to afford dental care. But without breaking out prevalence or treatment rates by race or ethnicity, the report misses a critical opportunity to fully expose the scope of racial disparities. This lack of detailed data makes it harder to design targeted interventions and track progress toward equity.
Researchers call for expanding subsidized dental programs, increasing access in underserved areas, and promoting preventive care. But to truly address these disparities, future studies must include race-specific treatment data to ensure that solutions meet the needs of those most affected.
See: “Dental care costs linked to major health disparities across age groups” (August 9, 2025)