Oral Health for All Americans: Making America Healthy Again

Oral health is often overlooked in conversations about public health, but it’s time for that to change. In America, access to dental care is not a guaranteed right but a privilege that many are denied. This profound discrimination—where Dental Access depends on socioeconomic status, insurance, heritage, zip code, or race—is Unacceptable! As a result, more than half of U.S. adults face preventable dental issues, and approximately 74 million Americans have No Dental Coverage at all. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent people who suffer daily and whose untreated dental issues contribute to a staggering annual economic loss of $45 billion. Even those with dental access are affected, as taxpayer dollars are funneled into temporary fixes—dental band-aids—rather than addressing root causes.

The Reality and the Cost

The inefficiency of our current system—focusing on reactive measures rather than preventive care—leads to escalating healthcare costs across sectors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50% of adults aged 30 and over have some form of periodontal disease, which has been linked to serious systemic health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Additionally, children who suffer from untreated dental issues are more likely to miss school and struggle academically. Reports over the past 15 years consistently show a worsening crisis, with no signs of improvement. The U.S. currently faces a shortage of 50,000 dental providers, a number that continues to grow. Compounding this issue, many recent graduates do not wish to, or cannot, settle in distant or rural areas where populations have no access to dental care. The result? Communities that remain underserved and left behind.

Oral Care Must be Included as an Inseparable part of Primary Care FOR ALL AMERICANS. Every American should receive two dental cleanings a year, regardless of insurance coverage. These cleanings should follow the PerioClean™ Preventive Dental Hygiene AirPowerWash Protocol, an innovative and patient-centric approach designed for preventive dental cleaning. This shift will set a new standard for preventive oral care and overall health.

Everything is a numbers game. We simply need more “skilled-qualified” hands to get the job done, and we must move past debates about not being “licensed-qualified enough.” Without an expanded, skilled workforce, even well-funded initiatives will fall short. Structural reform is not optional; it is necessary.

A Personal Story That Speaks Volumes

I have witnessed firsthand the deep implications of oral health disparities, both in the U.S. and abroad. Back in Bolivia—in South America—I remember when my organization provided free dental care to hundreds of children of imprisoned women. For these children, going on a bus to receive a free breakfast, dental care, and a chance to play outside under the Andes sun was synonymous with Freedom. They spent their days confined in dark, enclosed spaces alongside their mothers. For them, dental care represented more than health; it was a rare moment of light and liberation. Stories like these, though from a different part of the world, echo the same disparities faced by millions here in America.

This issue is more than professional; it is personal. Dental Health should not be a marker of privilege but a shared standard for All Americans, regardless of their background. The current system’s failure to provide Universal Dental Access harms not only individuals but the nation as a whole—draining economic resources that could be reallocated for impactful, preventive dental care.

The Unseen Crisis Affecting All Americans

Despite the importance of oral health, the system remains riddled with barriers that prevent equitable access. Foreign-trained dentists who have been on U.S. soil for years are often underutilized and confined to assistant or hygienist roles due to a system prioritizing red tape, translated transcripts, costly exam fees, and the imposition of two additional years of education that results in unjustifiable student debt—all to satisfy the American Ego. This bureaucracy limits the skilled, competent workforce needed to address this oral health crisis. Reforming licensure and incorporating these qualified professionals into the U.S. dental workforce is a necessary step to bridging this gap.

A Path Forward: Solutions for True Change

Under the new Make America Healthy Again initiative, spearheaded by leaders such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., there is an unprecedented opportunity to integrate Oral Health Equity into national health policies. Effective strategies must include:

• Expanding Medicare and Medicaid to cover comprehensive dental services for more Americans.
• Launching nationwide preventive care campaigns to educate communities and promote early intervention.
• Promoting dental licensure reform to integrate skilled foreign-trained dentists who can immediately contribute to the dental workforce.
• Developing dental residencies in rural and underserved areas, ensuring communities have dental access close to their homes.
• Ensuring two annual AirPowerWash dental cleanings for every American, regardless of insurance status, through the PerioClean™ protocol, setting a new standard of dental public health in preventive oral care.

Without these changes, any attempt to reform the system will remain incomplete. We must align passion with policy and back it with actionable solutions. Oral Care Must be Included as an Inseparable part of Primary Care for ALL AMERICANS.

For readers who wish to explore these challenges and strategies more deeply, I encourage them to read my article, A Path to Oral Health Equity, which provides a detailed analysis of these issues and potential solutions.

A Call to Action

We cannot rely solely on passion and good intentions; structural change is essential. I invite public health advocates, policymakers, and community members to support these solutions and push for immediate reforms. Let’s ensure that Oral Health becomes a pillar of public health policy and not just a footnote. Together, we can make a profound impact on the health and well-being of millions of Americans and steer the country toward a healthier future.

Together, we can truly Make America Healthy Again by addressing the often-ignored yet vital issue of Oral Health Equity.

Author: Dr. Alan Arturo Zarzar