Commentary: My toothache led to a painful discovery: The dental care system is full of cavities as you age

"If you X-rayed the state of oral health care in the United States, particularly for people 65 and older, the picture would be full of cavities. It's probably worse than you can even imagine. The snaggletoothed, gap-filled oral health care system - which isn't really a system at all - has been referred to as a mess."

"Dental insurance can barely be called insurance. It's fine for cleanings and basic preventive routines. But for more complicated and expensive procedures - which multiply as you age - you can be on the hook for half the cost, if you're covered at all, with annual payout caps in the $1,500 range."

"The No. 1 reason for delayed dental care is out-of-pocket costs. Medicare supplemental plans can be so limited, creating confusion when patients attempt to sort through coverage options and treatment decisions."

The United States dental care system lacks cohesion and accessibility, particularly for people 65 and older. Out-of-pocket costs represent the primary barrier preventing individuals from seeking dental care. Private dental insurance provides minimal coverage for complex procedures, typically capping annual payouts around $1,500 and requiring patients to cover half or more of expensive treatments. Medicare supplemental plans offer limited dental options despite higher premiums. The fragmented system creates confusion for patients navigating coverage options and treatment decisions. Researchers characterize the current state as fundamentally broken, with accessibility issues compounding as people age and require more extensive dental work.

Read at Los Angeles Times