The Need

The Needrothbright2025-08-25T23:48:02+00:00

The Need

While 97% of publicly insured children in California live within 15 minutes of a Medi-Cal dentist, less than half (46%) of those children see a dentist annually.
In 2024, only half (50.03%) of children and just a quarter (24.56%) of adults enrolled in Medi-Cal received dental care.
California has a maldistribution of dental providers. While California has the greatest number of dentists per population of any state in the US, only 15% of dentists participate meaningfully in Medi-Cal for adults.
Fewer practicing dentists have the same racial background as the low-income patients they serve. 60% of California’s low-income adults are Black and Latinx, while just 8% of California’s dentists are Black and Latinx.

Sign up to learn more

Community Voices

Dental therapists are going to help California because refugees from our community have learned that they can help prevent disease.

CBO staff, Sacramento, California

There are a lot of barriers in getting a degree. Not everyone can become doctors or nurses because of various reasons.

Resident of Sacramento, California

I can share from my perspective coming from a small town, rural-ish surrounded by farmlands. In 2019, I changed employers, so my provider changed. It took me one year to find a dentist because everywhere I called, the dentist was either retiring or not accepting new patients or had a 6-month waiting list.

CBO staff, Sacramento, California

I would like my provider to look like me so that they could know what I’m talking about and can relate.

Resident of South Central Los Angeles, California

Dental care should be accessible to all people, regardless of race.

Resident of Woodlake, California

Many of us go abroad if we’re looking for something more affordable. Sometimes, when you can’t go far, clinics should be brought into town.

Resident of Wasco, California

My husband doesn’t speak English and just agrees without understanding the dentist. He doesn’t know what he’s agreeing to, and in the end, doesn’t know what they’re going to do.

Resident of Wasco, California