CareQuest Institute for Oral Health has launched a national awareness campaign focused on improving access to dental care for US veterans, accompanied by a report examining disparities in oral health coverage, access, and outcomes.
The campaign features veterans sharing their personal experiences and is supported by a coalition of 19 organizations representing oral health, public health, academia, health policy, and veterans' advocacy. It also coincides with the release of It's Time to Give All Veterans a Good Reason to Smile, a report detailing barriers to dental care within the veteran population.
According to CareQuest Institute, approximately 9 million veterans are eligible for medical care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), but roughly 75% do not qualify for VHA dental benefits because eligibility is generally limited to veterans with service-connected dental conditions or a 100% disability rating.
The report also notes that access challenges extend beyond eligibility. Among veterans who do qualify for VHA dental benefits, only about one-third use those benefits annually. CareQuest Institute states that limited access to routine dental care contributes to untreated oral disease, emergency department visits for dental conditions, lost productivity, and increased financial burdens.
"While we ask veterans to sacrifice for our country, millions return home without access to basic dental care that they need and deserve," said Wade Rakes, Chief Executive Officer at CareQuest Institute. "It’s our obligation as Americans to ensure all veterans can access oral health care, which is vital to overall health and well-being. Through this campaign, we hope to elevate veterans’ voices, raise awareness about this urgent health matter, and build support for lasting solutions."
Among the findings highlighted in the report:
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Veterans are less likely than nonveterans to have dental insurance.
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Veterans are more than twice as likely as nonveterans to seek treatment for oral health conditions in emergency departments.
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Older veterans are more likely than their nonveteran counterparts to have had six or more teeth removed.
The campaign aims to increase awareness of veterans' oral health needs while supporting efforts to expand dental coverage, improve access to providers, and strengthen integration of oral health services within veterans' healthcare systems.
Organizations participating in the coalition include the American Institute on Disparities in Public Health, Apple Tree Dental, Everyone for Veterans, Harvard School of Dental Medicine Initiative to Integrate Oral Health and Medicine, HealthScape Advisors, Henry Schein Cares, Home Base, MATTER, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Network for Oral Health Access, NxtCare, NYU College of Dentistry, OrisDX, PDS Health, The Primary Care Collaborative, United Concordia Dental, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry.
The campaign video and full report are available at SupportVeteranSmiles.org.
Figures and Images
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
