Dental health in the United States has improved substantially in the past few decades, but not everyone has benefited equally. People of color, residents of low-income and rural communities, people with disabilities, and the elderly suffer disproportionately from tooth decay and gum disease and are less likely to visit a dentist than urban, white, and more well-to-do Americans. To help close the gaps in dental care access, Pew works to understand the issues driving disparities in dental care.
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Another type of provider is helping dentists in private practice and public health settings address the gaps in access to dental health care that many Americans face.
The number of low-income children with sealants increased by about 70 percent from 1999-2004 to 2011-14, which prevented almost 1 million cavities in this group, according to a new analysis released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?
