BY THE NUMBERS.

• More than 5 million Floridians living in areas that have limited or no access to care.

​

• One in five children across Florida suffer from treatable dental problems.

​

• More than 23% of 3rd graders in Florida have untreated tooth decay, making Florida 6th in the nation for highest percent of third grade children with unfilled cavities.

​​

• More than 2.7 million visits to the ER in 2017 were tied to preventable dental problems.

​​

• In 2019, Florida hospitals billed more than $630 million for preventable ER visits and hospital admissions stemming from preventable oral health issues.

​​

• Florida taxpayers bear the brunt of the bill with Medicaid paying for nearly 40% of those visits.

​​

• 34% of senior citizens (65+) have lost six teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease.

​​

• 14% of senior citizens have had all their teeth extracted.

​​

• Poor dental health has been associate to cause for 57 systemic diseases and illnesses. Patients with serious dental conditions are 25% more likely to suffer from heart disease and more likely to have autoimmune disorders, anemia, GI disorders and renal disease.

​​

• Insured individuals who have access to dental care have lower total health care costs and fewer hospitalizations.