Anticipated Dental Health Impacts and Financial Implications of Pediatric Medicaid Disenrollment
By
Sung Eun Choi
Lisa Simon
Catherine Hayes
William V. Giannobile
May 12, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Anticipated Dental Health Impacts and Financial Implications of Pediatric Medicaid Disenrollment
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Pediatric dental health and access to care Key Mechanisms Impact of Medicaid coverage on dental care access and outcomes Target Population Children aged 0 to 18 years, particularly from low-income families Care Setting Community and emergency dental care settings
Key Highlights
Nearly 1 in 5 US children aged 5 to 19 years have untreated dental caries. Medicaid provides dental coverage to approximately 37.3 million children. Projected loss of Medicaid coverage could affect 480,000 children annually from 2025 to 2034. Insurance coverage in childhood is dynamic, with 42% experiencing uninsurance by age 18. Loss of Medicaid may widen gaps in access to dental care and oral health outcomes. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize NHANES data for baseline demographic and clinical data on pediatric dental health. Management
Implement policies to maintain Medicaid coverage for low-income children to ensure access to dental care. Monitoring & Follow-up
Track dental caries prevalence and treatment outcomes among children with varying insurance statuses. Risks
Increased risk of untreated dental caries and complications such as tooth abscess and loss. Patient & Prescribing Data
Children aged 0 to 18 years, particularly those from low-income families
Insurance type influences the probability of receiving treatment for dental caries.
Clinical Best Practices
Encourage continuous Medicaid enrollment to prevent gaps in dental care access. Utilize simulation models to predict impacts of policy changes on pediatric dental health. Incorporate sociodemographic factors in assessing dental care needs and outcomes. Related Resources & Content
