People with disabilities are not always able to get the dental care they need. This is a problem because common oral health problems like tooth decay and gum disease can result in pain, difficulty eating, speech problems, and reduced self-esteem and quality of life. In addition to problems with teeth and gums, untreated oral health conditions are also linked to other health issues, including heart and lung diseases, as well as strokes.
We used data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to asses oral health indicators among adults with disabilities. We found that individuals with disabilities were less likely than people without disabilities to have received dental care in the previous year. And, access to dental care was associated with annual household income. In general, people with a household income of less than $15,000 per year were less likely to receive dental care than those who earned more. And, individuals with disabilities in low income households were the least likely to have received care.
Flip through the story board below for more details. You can hover over image graphics for more information on what the statistics mean. You can highlight "disability" or "no disability" to bring that group's statistics to the forefront.
RELATED ORAL HEALTH RESOURCES
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