PUBLICATION
The Oral Health and Wellbeing of
Aging Colorado Veterans
Veterans are at a particular risk of poor oral health as they age due to social risk factors, exposure to negative health experiences during their military career, and perpetual lack of access to care. Approximately 75% of veterans who are eligible for medical care through the VA are not eligible for dental care through the VA as a result of strict guidelines established by Congress. Among those who are eligible, only about one-third use the benefit each year. This gap leaves many veterans dependent on employer-sponsored insurance, private coverage, safety-net providers, charitable care, or out-of-pocket payments. This report provides an overview of the oral health and well-being of aging veterans in Colorado. To design this report, AIDPH analyzed national surveillance data, then partnered with stakeholders across Colorado to interpret the data and create actionable recommendations to address key disparities within this population.
Key Takeaways:
Colorado veterans across all age categories were more likely to have tooth loss, the most profound negative oral health outcome. Veterans aged 65 and older had the highest rates of tooth loss.
Veterans and nonveterans both reported delaying care due to cost in similar frequencies, but the percentage decreased across all groups as age increased.
Rural veterans struggle with accessing care, and oral health outcomes get worse as they age. Shockingly, 21% of rural Colorado veterans have lost all of their natural teeth.
Suggested Citation: The American Institute of Dental Public Health. The Oral Health and Wellbeing of Aging Colorado Veterans. Chicago, IL. August 2026. https://doi.org/10.58677/CNRQ1093
