Support Expanding Access to Dental Care in Colorado
At Healthier Colorado, we believe a smile is essential to your wellbeing. It only makes sense to give our oral health the best care possible.
Unfortunately, too many Coloradans, including children, older adults, people living in rural areas, and communities of color cannot get the necessary care to keep their mouths healthy. A shortage of dental health providers, the cost of treatment, and limited insurance coverage all prevent people from taking care of their teeth.
We need YOUR help to reduce barriers to dental care in Colorado and expand access for local communities.
Lack of access is a statewide problem. Even though we claim top spots for being the healthiest state, 57 of Colorado's 64 counties face a critical shortage of dental health professionals. Five counties don't have even a single dental provider. This forces people to drive long distances for dental check-ups or go without care altogether.
Your voice can make a difference. The upcoming legislative session provides an opportunity for state lawmakers to address oral health disparities and expand access to care. Lawmakers will only act if they know this issue is a priority for YOU.
Sign our petition to contact your legislator, today! Help ensure all Coloradans get the dental care they need and deserve.
Our community deserves better access to dental care.
Did you know that 57 of Colorado's 64 counties have a shortage of dental health professionals?
It's not surprising then that 1 in 5 Coloradans report having fair or poor oral health. For a state that is considered to be one of the healthiest in the country, Colorado can do better.
We can agree that dental health care is a basic need that affects our entire wellbeing. We all need our teeth to eat, speak, and show emotion. Having access to routine and quality dental care is essential to preventing and treating oral health issues, including cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. That is why it's so important for you and other lawmakers to address these access problems in Colorado.
Access to dental care is also a health equity issue. Older adults have the lowest rate of dental insurance. Children from low-income families report higher rates of cavities and untreated tooth decay. Black and Hispanic Coloradans are more likely to experience dental disease. And people living in rural areas have almost twice the prevalence of tooth loss versus urban adults.
Now is the time to act. As a state legislator, you have an opportunity to fight for oral health during the upcoming legislative session. I urge you to consider policy solutions that address the critical shortage of dental health professionals across our state and expand access to dental care in Colorado. Please do everything you can in 2022 to help make sure your constituents, and all Coloradans, get the oral care we need and deserve.
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