While topics like the economy and jobs dominate election discourses, one essential yet often overlooked issue could readily win over millions of Americans: dental care.
More than 77 million Americans have no dental coverage, often delaying or skipping dental care because they can’t afford it. Seniors are especially hard-hit: 65% do not have dental insurance, leaving them vulnerable to high costs. This isn’t just a private problem; it’s a major public health crisis affecting millions whose untreated oral disease harms their overall health and well-being.
Emergency rooms handle more than two million patients annually for preventable dental issues due to lack of access to routine care. These visits cost three times as muchas regular dental treatment, despite often providing insufficient care. Yet, dental coverage remains largely excluded from most health insurance plans, a glaring gap in a country where affordable healthcare is a top priority for voters.
Expanding dental care coverage is an under-emphasized healthcare issue that could make a difference in the upcoming elections.
A Growing Global Movement
The idea of expanding dental care coverage is neither radical nor unrealistic, despite conservative opposition. Many European countries have offered oral healthcare coverage for decades. Other countries like Canada, France, Israel or Brazil have recognized the importance of oral health and made bold strides toward universal coverage:
- Canada recently delivered on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election promise by introducing the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which will gradually provide millions of Canadians with access to affordable or free dental care.
- In France, dental care became universally accessible under President Emmanuel Macron in response to political and citizen pressure.
- Brazil’s universal health coverage system includes oral healthcare.
- Israel introduced full coverage for children, demonstrating that it is possible to tackle oral health disparities through decisive policy changes.
These countries align with new World Health Organization international policy recommendationsthat recognize good oral health as a basic human right.
In the U.S., however, efforts to expand dental care remain patchy. Despite some improvements, the Affordable Care Act left millions of adults without sufficient coverage. Many Americans find themselves either avoiding care or resorting to emergency rooms to address preventable oral health issues.
A Missed Campaign Opportunity
As the 2024 presidential election looms, dental care could become a game-changer for any candidate willing to embrace it. Health policy experts have proposed reforms and solutions to the dental coverage crisis in the U.S. In May , U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) introduced the Comprehensive Dental Care Reform Act of 2024, which aims to expand dental coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veterans Administration. If approved, this law would extend coverage to underserved populations, increasing the number of dental professionals through funding for community-based residencies to address shortage areas, and emphasizing preventive care.
The millions of Americans lacking adequate dental care represent a vast, untapped constituency — one that crosses party lines, as the need for dental care cuts across race, class, and geography. Over 90% of the public supports expanding Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing care.
The U.K. offers a cautionary tale of what happens when politicians ignore dental care. In recent elections, British politicians came under pressure as access to National Health Service dentists became a significant issue, forcing the new prime minister to promise substantial reform. This should serve as a warning: neglecting dental care could come at a political cost in the U.S.
While healthcare debates often focus on insurance coverage and pharmaceutical costs, dental care has quietly become one of the most pressing concerns for ordinary Americans. Candidates who recognize this and propose tangible solutions will be the ones who stand out. Clearly, such solutions would require substantial investments and system reforms, but they would quickly yield economic benefits through improved productivity, fewer sick days, and better job opportunities. The goal isn’t to provide free dental care for all, but to give equitable access to essential prevention and treatment to those who need it most and who are currently excluded from dental care just because they cannot afford it.
As we head into the final stretch of the 2024 election season, the message should be clear: dental care is not just a health issue—it’s a mainstream political one. Expanding dental coverage isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a winning strategy.