With February being National Children’s Dental Health Month, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025's States With the Best & Worst Dental Health, which highlights places that offer high quality and budget-friendly dental services, as well as expert commentary.
In order to determine where people have the healthiest teeth and gums in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 key metrics. The data set ranges from the share of adolescents who visited a dentist in the past year to dental treatment costs to dentists per capita.
Dental Health in New York (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
- Overall Rank: 30th
- 24th – % of Adolescents Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year
- 29th – % Of Adults Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year
- 38th – Dental Treatment Costs
- 29th – Dentists per Capita
- 10th – Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption
- 17th – % of Adults with Poor or Fair Oral Condition
- 31st – % of Adults Who Experienced Oral Pain in the Past Year
- 36th – % of Adults with Low Life Satisfaction Due to Their Oral Condition
Expert Commentary
What tips do you have for a person who wishes to maintain dental health without breaking the bank?
“Maintaining one's dental and gum health must be through a comprehensive, life-long approach. It first begins with consistent and daily preventative care in the form of brushing and flossing daily/regularly (using fluoride-based toothpaste and oral rinses), avoiding high-sugar foods and snacks, and regular dental checkups and cleanings as well as addressing any dental and oral health problems in a timely and thorough manner. Prevention of dental and oral disease begins with comprehensive, regular, consistent self-care and maintenance.”
Dr. Janie Petrillo – Retired Associate Professor, Kennesaw State University
“First and foremost, the absolute best way to maintain dental health on a budget is to ensure you maintain your oral hygiene. This means brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time and flossing at least once a day. Furthermore, you must see your hygienist every six months for a cleaning. The hygienist can clean places that you miss and can clean areas that are more difficult to clean at home. The more routine you are with your oral hygiene the less likely more expensive issues will occur because you either prevent decay or catch decay early. If, however, you find yourself already in a painful situation with a tooth, and your financial situation does not allow for unplanned expenses, many locations have free or reduced-cost clinics. Often, however, you will need to do a little digging and calling around to find these clinics, but they are out there.”
Philip K. Morton, Ph.D., D.D.S. – Professor, Murray State College
Should school sealant programs be extended more aggressively, especially in low-income areas in order to better prevent tooth decay in the school-age population?
“The pros of expanding school sealant programs in low-income areas include the potential to better prevent tooth decay in the school-age population. Sealants can help protect tooth surfaces from bacteria and plaque, which can lead to decay. By targeting low-income areas, these programs can help reduce oral health disparities. However, there are cons to consider, such as limited resources and funding for widespread implementation of school sealant programs. Additionally, sealants may not be a long-term solution for all children and may require regular dental check-ups for maintenance.”
Y. Tony Yang – Endowed Professor; Associate Dean, School of Nursing, The George Washington University
“Yes. Dental sealants – professionally placed plastic coatings over the grooves of back teeth – are also promoted by all recognized dental authorities as effective and cost-effective approaches to preventing tooth decay. Because poor and low-income children experience more tooth decay than their more affluent peers, targeting sealant programs in their schools holds the greatest promise of reducing disease burden.”
Burton L. Edelstein, DDS MPH – Professor Emeritus; Special Lecturer, Columbia University
How can dental health care be made more affordable?
“To enhance the affordability of dental health care, a multi-faceted approach involving legislative and policy changes, workforce regulation, and improved patient accessibility is essential. One key strategy is to increase access to oral health care by implementing laws and policies that minimize financial obstacles. This could involve expanding Medicaid coverage to include adults or integrating dental benefits into standard health insurance plans, thereby making dental care more accessible and affordable for a broader population. Simultaneously, strengthening and regulating the oral health workforce is crucial. This can be achieved by authorizing both traditional and non-traditional providers to offer dental care services. Expanding their scope of services and relaxing supervision requirements could also play a significant role in enhancing the availability and affordability of dental care.”
Y. Tony Yang – Endowed Professor; Associate Dean, School of Nursing, The George Washington University
“While dental care – particularly dental repair and replacement – is inherently expensive, people can work with their dental providers to develop individualized care plans that prevent new diseases, stop (or ‘arrest’) existing diseases, and buy time to complete needed repairs over time with manageable payments. People can also explore all available options for dental insurance – private, public, and through their state health exchanges – and then ensure that they use their benefits when available.”
Burton L. Edelstein, DDS MPH – Professor Emeritus; Special Lecturer, Columbia University