- Study Backs Link Between Oral Health and Overall Health
- Oral Health is Critical to Overall Health
- New Fact Sheet | FAQ: Adding a Dental Benefit to Medicare Part B
- LA Times Highlights Gaps in Dental Care for Older Adults
- Geographic Disparities in Oral Health Care
- Oral Health in Nursing Homes
- Previous Oral Health CMA Alerts:
Study Backs Link Between Oral Health and Overall Health
A 2025 study from King’s College London reinforced the connection between oral health and overall health. The study found that successful root canal treatment could reduce inflammation linked to heart disease and improve levels of blood sugar and cholesterol. “Lead Author Dr Sadia Niazi, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Endodontology, King’s College London, said: ‘Our findings show that root canal treatment doesn’t just improve oral health – it may also help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. It’s a powerful reminder that oral health is deeply connected to overall health.’”
Oral Health is Critical to Overall Health
The Center for Medicare Advocacy supports coverage of oral health in Medicare. As an advocacy organization, CMA receives calls and emails from Medicare beneficiaries across the country. For decades now, the very limited coverage for dental services has been one of the pressing problems that we most frequently hear about. The individuals who contact us experience high risks to their health and health care treatment, as well as very compromised quality of life because they cannot readily afford this dental care.
Here we highlight recent articles, research and advocacy developments key to our work to advance oral health coverage in Medicare.
New Fact Sheet | FAQ: Adding a Dental Benefit to Medicare Part B
Recognizing that oral health is integral to overall health, adding oral health coverage into Part B integrates oral health with the delivery of other health benefits, including preventive services. Adding oral health to Part B would also minimize administrative complexity by using Part B’s coverage criteria, payment structure, rate setting, appeals, and low-income beneficiary protections that are already in place.
- Download the fact Sheet at medicareadvocacy.org/fact-sheet-faq-adding-a-dental-benefit-to-medicare-part-b
LA Times Highlights Gaps in Dental Care for Older Adults
A recent piece in the Los Angeles Times highlighted the gaps in dental care in Medicare, as well as the devastating impacts of cuts to Medicaid on dental care, and the harms these cause for older adults. The author chronicled older adults seeking dental care in Mexico due to the limited coverage in Medicare, including in Medicare Advantage, for oral health, and the high out-of-pocket costs beneficiaries face for dental visits. Most individuals forgo care due to the high costs—this jeopardizes their health, quality of life, ability to work, and eat healthy food.
Geographic Disparities in Oral Health Care
Research published in the Journal of Dental Research and SSM Population Health found “pronounced and widespread geographic disparities in access to dental specialists across the United States, driven by geographic concentration in metropolitan areas.”
Key findings include:
- 49.3 million (19.1%) of US adults lack public transit access to dental care.
- Rural residents faced average driving times 3.2 times longer than urban residents do.
- The disparity was most severe in states such as Alaska, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, where driving times to specialists often exceeded an hour.
- More than 98% of dental specialists practice in urban areas.
The issues outlined have serious implications for access to timely diagnoses, treatment quality, and oral health–related quality of life.
Oral Health in Nursing Homes
A recent analysis, “Oral Health Care for Older Adults: Implications for U.S. Nursing Homes: A Structured Narrative Review,” examined studies regarding oral health care in nursing homes. Findings indicate “persistent gaps in oral care for older adults due to barriers such as limited staff training, organizational constraints, and insufficient institutional prioritization.” The studies call for “targeted education, supportive policies, and interprofessional collaboration,” which could “strengthen the quality and consistency of oral health care in nursing homes.”
Previous Oral Health CMA Alerts:
- Millions of Beneficiaries Could Benefit from Dental Payment Clarifications – Center for Medicare Advocacy
- Legislation Introduced to Expand Oral Health Coverage – Center for Medicare Advocacy
- Medicare Will Not Expand on Dental Payment Examples in 2026 – Center for Medicare Advocacy
- Oral Health Consortium Supports CMS Clarification on Oral Health Coverage – Center for Medicare Advocacy
- CMS Final Rule Includes Important Oral Health Clarification – Center for Medicare Advocacy
- CMA Attorney Co-Authors Article on Medicare Dental Coverage – Center for Medicare Advocacy
- New Research Confirms Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Do Not Experience Greater Access to Dental, Vision, or Hearing Care – Center for Medicare Advocacy