Advocating for Veterans’ Oral Health in Iowa

Posted on October 28, 2024 in Company News

Iowa’s veterans are dealing with more health problems than others in our state, and these issues are impacting their oral health, overall health, and well-being. To better understand the effects of these challenges, Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation teamed up with the American Institute of Dental Public Health to look at the current state of veterans’ oral health in Iowa, what causes these problems, and to collaborate to find solutions.

A Closer Look at The State of Veteran Oral Health in Iowa

The State of Veteran Oral Health in Iowa was written to highlight the significant issues that Iowa veterans experience in their health. Here are a few things we learned in the report:

• Veterans are more likely to have dental cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss than the general population. Nearly one in 10 Iowa veterans (9.5%) have no teeth, and 52.3% of Iowa veterans are at risk of experiencing tooth loss.
• Veterans are less likely to have access to dental care, which makes them more likely to delay dental care due to cost.
• Veterans with disabilities, those who are unhoused or live in rural areas, and those who have experienced combat or other traumatic events are more likely to have poor oral health.

Through decades of research, we know that oral health is closely tied to chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The report revealed that the number of veterans in rural Iowa with heart disease is almost three times the national average for these health concerns. Diabetes is also common in this population.

Barriers to Care

Iowa veterans face several barriers to receiving oral health care. Some of these include:

• Experiencing poverty and housing insecurity, which may make dental costs out of reach.
• Living in rural areas where there may be a limited number of dentists available.
• Many Iowa veterans face transportation barriers/challenges, which can make it hard for them to get to the dentist.

Give Smiles for Veterans 

Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation is committed to advocating for the well-being of Iowa’s veteran community. One of the ways we’re helping is through our Give Smiles for Veterans program, which provides dental care supplies to veterans’ organizations to share in their service areas. More than 55 veteran organizations participated to request dental care supplies for nearly 8,000 veterans.

We’re also researching other ways to support Iowa veterans’ oral health needs.

If you are an organization serving Iowa’s veteran community and would like to partner, our Foundation offers funds and resources to support improving the oral and overall health of Iowans, including veterans. Email us at [email protected] to learn more.