Iowa Veteran Oral Health

Understanding Outcomes and Opportunities

Oral health is critical to overall health and well-being. Marginalized, historically excluded, and under-served communities often disproportionately suffer from poor oral health as a result of social and political determinants of health. Veterans experience a disproportionate burden of disease and disability that negatively affects their oral health, their overall health, and their well-being. This report was developed to serve as a resource for key target audiences in Iowa including clinicians, advocates, health administrators, nonprofit organizations, researchers, and policy makers to help design and implement solutions.

READ THE REPORT

READ THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A Report of Strategic and Actionable Recommendations for Iowa Stakeholders

This report published with support from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation assesses the oral health status of veterans living in Iowa using quantitative and qualitative data and noting gaps in available information and resources. It explores:

Oral health outcomes, including prevalence of dental caries, gum disease, and tooth loss
Access to dental care, including insurance coverage and cost of care
Associated chronic disease conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer
Cost of care, potential cost savings, areas of opportunity, and outstanding gaps
Intersectional inequities experienced by specific populations of veterans

Listening & Learning Sessions

We’re hosting a series of virtual listening and learning esssions to focus on the most relevant data, resources, and recommendations highlighted in the report. The sessions will be tailored to the needs of specific stakeholders, creating space to understand the most relevant aspects of veteran oral health recommendations and continued community solution-building.