Parents say COVID-19 has disrupted children’s dental care

A third of parents say the COVID-19 pandemic has made dental care difficult for their children, according to a new national poll.

But some families may face greater challenges than others. Not being able to make a dental appointment during the pandemic was three times more common for children on Medicaid than those with private dental coverage, according to the CS Mott Children’s Hospital of Michigan Medicine National Poll on Children’s Health.

“Regular preventive dental care helps keep children’s teeth healthy and allows providers to address any cavities or dental problems before they become more serious,” says Mott Poll co-director Sarah Clark, MPH.

“Our findings highlight how the pandemic may have disrupted family dental care and exacerbated potential disparities among those with insurance barriers.”

Some parents have tried to keep up with their child’s regular dental checkups, only to find a long wait for an appointment, Clark says. Others found that the dental office had closed or reduced emergency patient visits.

But the Mott Poll also revealed a silver lining: One in four parents described improvements in how their children take care of their teeth and gums at home during the pandemic.

The nationally representative report is based on responses from 1,882 parents with at least one child ages 3-18.

Clark talks more about the Mott Poll findings and dental care recommendations for families below:

1 in 3 parents report challenges getting preventive dental care

The American Pediatric Dental Association recommends that children receive regular dental cleanings and exams every six months, starting with the appearance of their first tooth. Checkups provide a consistent opportunity to detect and treat tooth decay, to apply protective treatments such as sealants and fluoride varnish, and to educate parents and children about good oral hygiene.

However, to protect patients and staff, some dental practices have changed or limited their operations to limit the spread of COVID-19.

60% of parents polled have tried to get preventive dental care for their child since the pandemic began. While most got an appointment in the usual time frame, 24% were late and 7% couldn’t get an appointment at all.

Overall, one in three parents (32%) believe that COVID-19 has made it difficult to get preventive dental care for their child.

Clark says one challenge for parents during the pandemic has been keeping up with the many changes in hours and operations, from schools to stores to health care providers.

“Parents who were unable to make an appointment with the dentist for their child should double-check with their regular dentist, as long wait times or patient restrictions may have changed,” she says.

COVID-19 safety concerns may delay care

This Mott poll shows that some parents are concerned about the risk of exposure to COVID-19 during a dental visit and are delaying making an appointment for their child.

The majority of parents who did not attempt to schedule preventive dental care for their child during the pandemic cited reasons related to COVID. About 40% do not want to risk exposure, while 23% say the dentist’s office was closed or only sees emergency patients.

Other parents say they didn’t call for an appointment because their child didn’t need dental care or had dental problems.

Most parents (67%) believe it is safe for their child to receive dental care at this point in the pandemic, while 14% feel it is unsafe and 19% are unsure.

Clark recommends that parents who are concerned about exposure to COVID contact their child’s dentist to find out what precautions have been taken. These may include screening patients and staff and temperature checks and waiting for patients in their cars rather than in the waiting room.

“It can be helpful for dentists to be proactive by reminding parents of the importance of regular dental checkups for children,” she says. “Reminder notices and website updates outlining changes to practice functions may also help more parents feel safe bringing children to their visit.”

Insurance barriers contribute to the accessibility of dental health care

Barriers to dental appointments occurred more frequently for children with Medicaid dental coverage compared to those with private dental insurance.

Among parents who tried to bring their child in for preventive dental care, 15% of parents of children with Medicaid dental coverage reported being unable to make an appointment, compared with 4% of those with private dental insurance and 5% without they had no coverage.

Clark notes that even outside of the pandemic, these children often struggle to find a dentist, as many providers do not accept Medicaid payment. Some children receive preventive dental services through schools or public dental offices, but these services have been reduced during the pandemic.

Among parents who did not try to schedule a preventive dental appointment, cost was the reason for 23% of parents who did not have dental insurance, compared with very few of those with private or Medicaid coverage.

“Insurance barriers can lead to unequal opportunities for families to receive dental care that is vital to keeping their children’s teeth healthy,” says Clark.

1 in 4 parents See Improvements in child’s oral health habits

An unexpected finding from the Mott Poll report was that a quarter of parents reported improvements in their child’s oral health habits during the pandemic.

This included brushing more often (16%), flossing (11%) and using fluoride rinses (9%) and consuming less sugary drinks (15%).

Overall, 28% of parents say their child has made at least one positive change, including more parents of children with Medicaid (37%) or no dental coverage (32%) compared to private dental insurance (24%).

“We were pleased to find parents describing positive changes in how their children take care of their teeth at home,” says Clark. “Brushing and flossing daily and avoiding sugary drinks are important ways to prevent tooth decay.

“Parents whose child does not have a regular dental checkup should take extra steps to improve daily oral health habits, particularly if regular dental care has been delayed or disrupted,” she adds.