Expanding Access and Equity

Did you know that roughly two in five veterans describe their oral health as fair or poor? This translates to approximately eight million veterans with self-reported sub-optimal oral health. Veterans experience poorer oral health outcomes compared to non-veterans; a reality exacerbated by the historically fragmented dental care systems that perpetuate inequities. AIDPH’s veteran oral health initiative focus areas include:

Partnering with community, state, and national organizations to develop a stakeholder network ready to advance oral health equity for veterans.

Across the country, more than 85% of Veteran Health Administration (VHA) enrollees are not eligible for dental care coverage. That means roughly 7.6 million veterans who are eligible for other primary care through the VHA aren’t getting dental care. Inadequate dental care is costly and painful — particularly when poor oral health is accompanied by chronic disease conditions like heart disease or diabetes. These profiles provide data that describe what oral health looks like for veterans by state, highlight additional health indicators by age and rurality, and compare veterans living in each state to veterans nationally. They can be paired with the data dashboard and research publications for additional insights into veteran oral health and well-being.

This state-based trip features tools, resources, data, and advocacy frameworks for improving access and outcome for veterans. A virtual road tour “stop” includes a one-hour session designed to empower state-based stakeholders to identify gaps and potential solutions for a state’s veterans and their oral health. The interactive sessions feature an overview of the veteran oral health state profile, along with state and national efforts underway to improve the oral health of veterans.

With support from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, AIDPH produced a comprehensive report on the oral health and well-being of Iowa veterans. This year, we’ll be expanding the project reach through:

• Listening and learning sessions
• A shared resource platform
• A summit on veteran oral health in Iowa

A Compendium of Veteran Oral Health Best, Promising, and Emerging Practice Approaches

AIDPH and the National Network for Oral Health Access

Improving the Oral Health of Rural Veterans

AIDPH and CareQuest Institute for Oral Health