According to the Connecticut (CT) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the percentage of adults ages 18 and older with an annual household income of less than $25,000 who reported seeing a dentist in the past year increased from 59.4% in 2012 to 61.3% in 2018. Despite improvements in the State’s oral health status in the recent decades, significant disparities persist by income, education, and race/ethnicity. For those with an annual income less than $25,000, only 61.3% had a dental visit compared with 81.4% of those with an income of $75,000 or more.ⁱ Overall, there has been no significant change, moving towards the Healthy CT 2020 (HCT 2020) target of 65.0%.

The BRFSS is an ongoing, state-based, random-digit-dialed landline- and cellular-telephone survey of adults ages 18 years and older. BRFSS collects state data on health–risk behaviors, chronic diseases and conditions, access to and use of health care, and use of preventive health services related to the leading causes of death and disability. The survey asks oral health questions: whether respondent had visited a dentist, dental clinic or dental specialists for any reason in the past year; whether respondents ever had any of their permanent teeth extracted.

Limited and infrequent access to dental care contributes to poor oral health, postponed oral health care can often lead to more difficult dental and systemic health problems as well as higher costs for performing and paying for services. Unfortunately, in Connecticut, 38.7% CT adults ages 18 and over with a household income <$25,000, reported that they did not see a dentist or a dental clinic for any reason in the past year, affecting an estimated 171,000 adults. These data indicate that public health interventions are needed to encourage all adults to seek preventive dental care at least once yearly.

[i]. (2018). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Hartford: Connecticut Department of Public Health.

These data are current as of April 2022. Anticipated date for next data update: December 2023.

Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut Department of Social Services; Connecticut Department of Developmental Services; State Department of Education; Office of Healthcare Reform and Innovation; State Department on Aging Long Term Care Ombudsman Program; University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine; Other Schools of Dental Medicine and Dental Hygiene; local public health agencies; American Dental Association; Health Care Facilities and Providers; Professional Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Associations; Dental Insurance Providers; Organizations and Coalitions Focused on Oral Health; Community Service Providers serving children, older adults, and underserved populations; Faith‐Based Organizations; Philanthropic and Research Organizations that address oral health.

Most oral diseases are preventable with simple interventions such as regular brushing and flossing, consumption of fluoridated water and regular dental visit. People who have the least access to preventive services and dental treatment have greater rates of oral diseases. Research shows a connection between poor oral health and many chronic disease and impacts quality of life. Public health interventions should promote that all adults seek preventive dental care at least once yearly. Increasing the proportion of children, adolescents, and adults who used the oral health care system in the past year is a Leading Health Indicator in Healthy People (HP) 2020. Public health interventions should promote that all adults seek preventive dental care at least once yearly.