In today's fast-paced world, maintaining good oral health is more important than ever. Delta Dental's latest report, the 2025 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report, sheds light on the current state of oral health in the U.S. and highlights areas for improvement.
This comprehensive analysis, now in its fifth year, surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults and parents of children 12 and under to understand their opinions and behaviors relating to oral health.
Key Findings
The report reveals that while the general state of oral health in the U.S. is positive, there is a significant gap in understanding the direct correlation between oral health and specific health conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illness, and high blood pressure.
Among surveyed adults, 44% are aware of the link between oral health and heart disease, 31% recognize its connection to respiratory illness, 27% know about its relation to high blood pressure, and 26% understand its correlation with stroke. Despite near-universal awareness of the relationship between oral health and overall wellness, this reduced understanding poses a challenge and highlights the need for continued education on the topic.
Dental Anxiety
One of the notable barriers to dental care is dental anxiety. More than 1 in 5 adults have avoided dental care due to anxiety, and 1 in 7 parents have skipped taking their children to the dentist for the same reason. Younger generations are more likely to avoid seeking oral health care due to dental visit anxiety.
Generational Perspective
Fear of pain or discomfort is the top reported reason among adults and children who experience dental visit anxiety.
Read more about dental anxiety
Prenatal Oral Health Care
The report also highlights the importance of prenatal oral health care. Notably, half of women who are or have been pregnant see the strong value of oral health during prenatal care, acknowledging its role in their overall wellness.
In fact, more than 1 in 2 women who are or have been pregnant are likely to prioritize dental visits (54%), as they believe it is as important as scheduling their annual physical.
However, only one-third of adults (33%) understand that pregnant individuals are at greater risk for gum disease, and over one in four recognize the association with adverse outcomes such as pre-term birth and low birth weight.
Preventive Dental Visits
Preventive dental visits remain a priority for many adults. The frequency of preventive visits among adults who visited the dentist in 2024 remained steady (84%) compared to 2023 (83%). Notably, there was a significant drop in unexpected visits and cosmetic visits among adults.
According to the report, more than 6 in 10 adults (64%) schedule regular checkups to minimize future dental problems, a significant increase from the previous year’s 57%. This proactive approach helps in detecting potential issues early, preventing more serious long-term problems. Most Delta Dental plans cover preventive dental health care with no cost or a low co-pay
Delta Dental's report underscores the critical role of oral health in overall wellness and the need for greater efforts to demonstrate its importance in preventing and managing systemic health conditions.
“People are becoming more aware of the systemic relationship between oral health and overall health—how oral health impacts diabetes, heart disease and more,” said Missy Acosta, SVP Brand Experience for Delta Dental of Tennessee. “Preventive care, which is the focus of most dental plans with 100% coverage for dental cleanings and exams, is just as important to your physical health as it is to maintain a healthy smile.”
