Benevis Report Emphasizes the Need to Prioritize Adolescent Dental Health in Honor of World Oral Health Day
"Access to quality dental care should be easy, especially when it's essential; however, millions of adolescents face barriers to treatment or lack of dental hygiene resources and education for healthy smiles," said Bryan Carey, CEO of Benevis. "As adolescents move closer to adulthood or further away from the support of their parents' dental insurance coverage, establishing strong oral health habits that they can maintain over a lifetime becomes even more important. This work begins in the household and within their dental home--the ongoing relationship with a dental provider--to prevent the early onset of dental disease and teach healthy behaviors."
- Many oral diseases and harmful health behaviors managed by adults begin in adolescence.
- Harmful behaviors with implications for adverse oral health outcomes, like dietary habits, smoking, vaping, and substance use, also become more common in adolescent years.
- In the U.S., social determinants of health (SDOH) have risk factors that are directly linked to poor oral health outcomes and are attributed to social, economic, and geographic barriers.
- Expanding access to equitable oral healthcare to support dental disparities during this vital stage of life is essential to adolescent health and well-being.