The number of preventive dental health visits are on the rise while unexpected visits are declining, according to Delta Dental's 2024 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness report.
The Delta Dental Plans Association partnered with market research firm Material Holdings to create the report, which used online surveys of two groups: 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and over and 1,000 parents of children ages 12 and under. The report was published May 2.
Here are six notes on preventive dental care from the report:
1. Dental hygiene among adults has been largely consistent with American Dental Association guidelines in the last year. Approximately 3 in 4 adults met the criteria for brushing, rinsing and flossing.
2. The top motivators for maintaining proper oral care include saving money and avoiding unexpected costs, preventing cavities and gum disease, and preventing tooth decay.
3. The report concluded that while parents are making sure their children follow recommended guidelines, more improvements could be made.
4. More than 80% of dental visits made by adults in 2023 were preventive visits, compared to 78% in 2022.
5. The percentage of unexpected dental visits dropped from 41% in 2022 to 36% in 2023.
6. The top motivators for adults making preventive dental visits include reducing the possibility of experiencing serious dental issues, maximizing insurance benefits and having a visit scheduled during their last appointment.