Dental Visit - Women in Utah

Utah

Oral health is a vital component of overall health. Oral diseases such as dental caries (cavities) and periodontal (gum) disease are common and can contribute to severe health issues if left undiagnosed and untreated. Poor oral health can negatively affect quality of life by causing pain and/or tooth loss and can affect the ability to chew, speak and engage socially. More than 40% of adults in the United States reported feeling mouth pain in the past year. Further, inflammation associated with periodontal disease has been linked to several chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease and various cancers. 

Oral health is critical during reproductive years (ages 18-44). Over 80% of adults have had at least one cavity by age 34, and untreated oral diseases among women of reproductive age directly impact perinatal and maternal outcomes. Good oral health is particularly important during pregnancy, as physiological changes put pregnant women at higher risk of new or exacerbated oral health problems due to fluctuations in hormones. For example, increased inflammatory response to dental plaque during pregnancy can cause pregnancy-related gingivitis. Other oral health problems that commonly occur during pregnancy include tooth erosion, cavities and gum disease.

The most common reasons cited for not seeking routine dental care are cost, lack of insurance and dental anxiety. Dental anxiety is estimated to affect around 32% of the population, with 12% experiencing extreme dental fear. Access to dentists has also become more challenging for those living in dental health professional shortage areas. As of 2025, approximately 57 million people in the US live in a dental health professional shortage area, with 67% of the shortage areas being in rural communities.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of annual dental visits among women ages 18-44 is higher among:

• Women ages 35-44 and 18-24 compared with women ages 25-34.
• Asian and white women compared with Hispanic women.
• Women with a college degree. The prevalence rises with education level.
• Women with an annual household income of $150,000 or more. The prevalence rises with income level.
• Women living in metropolitan areas compared with those in nonmetropolitan areas.
• Straight women compared with lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer (LGBQ+) women.

Oral diseases are preventable through routine dental visits and proper oral hygiene. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health Strategic Framework (2014-2017) outlined foundational federal strategies for improving access to oral health care, including expanding care in community health settings.

Incorporating oral health counseling into prenatal and perinatal care can help prevent pregnancy-related oral health diseases and encourage healthy oral hygiene habits during and after pregnancy. A 2022 study found that offering comprehensive dental benefits to Medicaid-enrolled pregnant women led to higher rates of dental insurance and increased dental care use.

Resources for finding affordable dental care include:

• The Find a Health Center tool, which locates community-based organizations that provide sliding-scale and free medical and dental services that meet the requirements of the Health Resources and Services Administration, such as serving everyone, even if they cannot pay.
• The 211 helpline, accessible online and by phone 24/7, provides assistance with meeting basic needs and connects people with resources and services in their area, including medical and dental care.
• State and local dental organizations. These organizations may have more information about local free or reduced-cost services and programs.

Healthy People 2030 has several oral health-related objectives, including: 

• Increasing the proportion of children, adolescents and adults who use the oral health care system.
• Reducing the proportion of people who can’t get the dental care they need when they need it.
• Reducing the proportion of adults with active or untreated tooth decay.

Adesanya, Margo R., William Bailey, Donald C. Belcher, Marco Beltran, Tracy Branch, Marcia K. Brand, Edwin M. Craft, et al. “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health Strategic Framework, 2014–2017.” Public Health Reports 131, no. 2 (March 2016): 242–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/003335491613100208.

Baiju, Rm. “Oral Health and Quality of Life: Current Concepts.” JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH, 2017. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2017/25866.10110.

Beaton, Laura, Ruth Freeman, and Gerry Humphris. “Why Are People Afraid of the Dentist? Observations and Explanations.” Medical Principles and Practice 23, no. 4 (2014): 295–301. https://doi.org/10.1159/000357223.

Naavaal, Shillpa, and David W. Harless. “Comprehensive Pregnancy Dental Benefits Improved Dental Coverage and Increased Dental Care Utilization among Medicaid-Enrolled Pregnant Women in Virginia.” Frontiers in Oral Health 3 (September 20, 2022): 989659. https://doi.org/10.3389/froh.2022.989659.

Northridge, Mary E., Anjali Kumar, and Raghbir Kaur. “Disparities in Access to Oral Health Care.” Annual Review of Public Health 41, no. 1 (April 2, 2020): 513–35. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094318.

Oral Health Care During Pregnancy and Through the Lifespan. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 569. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, August 2017. https://www.acog.org/-/media/project/acog/acogorg/clinical/files/committee-opinion/articles/2013/08/oral-health-care-during-pregnancy-and-through-the-lifespan.pdf?rev=1448d5d38f17453e80e60856511cabbf&hash=4C752F0E15853615CA188107FCAD3251.