Oral health is a key component of overall well-being. Yet, new data show that people in Arkansas and across the nation who struggle financially are less likely to access dental care and more likely to experience poor dental health outcomes than higher-income households. The findings come from recent national and state issue briefs published by United for ALICE.
The briefs reveal that for many oral health measures, lower-income Arkansans fare worse than the national averages for households with similar financial challenges.
About United for ALICE
Founded in 2009 by the United Way of Northern New Jersey, United for ALICE focuses on the challenges faced by ALICE households — those that are asset-limited, income-constrained, but employed. These households earn above the federal poverty level but struggle to cover basic needs like housing, childcare, and food.
In 2023, there were 54.8 million U.S. households below the ALICE threshold, including both ALICE and federal poverty-level households, accounting for 42% of all U.S. households. In Arkansas, 537,094 households, or 44%, were below this threshold.
Data Reveal a “Dental Divide”
The latest issue briefs from United for ALICE highlight what they call a “dental divide.” Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Census Bureau, and other sources, the briefs compare oral health outcomes across income levels, states, and rural versus urban areas.
Key Findings for Arkansas
In 2024, only 47% of Arkansas adults below the ALICE threshold had visited a dentist in the past year, compared to 67% of adults above the threshold. Nationally, 59% of lower-income adults saw a dentist, compared to 72% of higher-income adults.
Twenty percent of lower-income Arkansans had not visited a dentist in five years or more, compared to 13% nationally.
Among Arkansas adults below the ALICE threshold, 29% reported losing six or more permanent teeth due to decay or gum disease. The national average for lower-income adults was 17%.
In 2023, 34% of people in the South Census Region, including Arkansas, reported skipping dental care due to cost, slightly higher than the 30% national average.
Parental dental care for children also shows disparities. In 2023, 77% of parents in lower-income households in the South reported that their child had seen a dentist in the prior year, compared to 87% of higher-income households. Nationally, the figures were 79% and 89%, respectively.
Access to dental care remains limited. In 2023, 66% of Arkansas households below the ALICE threshold lived in communities with low or no access to dental providers.
Rural areas face the greatest challenges: 92% of rural households in Arkansas had low access to dental providers, compared to 44% in urban areas. Nationally, 87% of rural households had low access, versus 27% in urban areas.
Dental insurance gaps persist: 30% of Arkansas adults lacked coverage in 2024, slightly above the 26% national rate.