Almost one in three young adults in the United States did not visit the dentist in the past year—and experts say that’s more than just a dental problem.
A new study from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine shows that missing out on routine checkups can have long-term effects on both health and economic stability.
The research, published in Frontiers in Oral Health, is the first of its kind to compare people’s social and economic situations, their access to dental care, and their self-reported health across different ages.
It found that young adults, ages 18 to 35, are the most likely group to avoid the dentist.
Cost and lack of insurance were the most common reasons, but other factors like housing insecurity and mental health struggles also played a role.
“Across all age groups, most people managed to see a doctor,” said study author Yau-Hua Yu, associate professor of periodontology at Tufts. “But dental care was different—young adults were most likely to skip it, and that’s very troubling.”
Yu analyzed data from nearly 128,000 adults in the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us program, one of the largest biomedical databases in the world.
The study revealed that people who missed dental care were also more likely to skip medical visits, struggle with copays, rely on emergency care, and report poor mental health or memory issues.
Many were renters, racially diverse, and uninsured, which added extra financial and emotional pressure.
Older adults, by contrast, were more likely to have insurance and own a home, but those with disabilities or mobility challenges often skipped dental visits too.
Problems like difficulty walking, bathing, or even concentrating made it harder for them to get routine oral health care.
The findings point to a bigger issue: dental care in the U.S. is still separated from medical care. Unlike most doctor visits, dental checkups are often not covered by standard health insurance, leaving millions without affordable options.
Yu argues that this needs to change. “Our results show the urgent need to integrate dental care into overall health care,” she said. “Policies must look at both income and life stage. Young adults especially need better access to preventive dental care, because they are the backbone of our future workforce.”
Possible solutions include expanding public dental insurance, adding oral health goals to public health programs, and building mobile or home-based dental services for seniors.
For younger people, Yu suggests that community groups, faith-based organizations, and trusted local health centers could play an important role.
“When dental care is offered in familiar community spaces, it feels less intimidating and more supportive,” Yu said. “That can make the difference between waiting for a painful emergency and getting the preventive care that keeps people healthy.”
