By the Numbers
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More than 5 million Floridians living in areas that have limited or no access to care.
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One in five children across Florida suffer from treatable dental problems.
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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.
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More than 2.7 million visits to the ER in 2017 were tied to preventable dental problems.
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In 2019, Florida hospitals billed more than $630 million for preventable ER visits and hospital admissions stemming from preventable oral health issues.
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Florida taxpayers bear the brunt of the bill with Medicaid paying for nearly 40% of those visits.
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34% of senior citizens (65+) have lost six teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease.
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14% of senior citizens have had all their teeth extracted.
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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.
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Insured individuals who have access to dental care have lower total health care costs and fewer hospitalizations.
© 2021 Floridians for Dental Access