{"id":10010,"date":"2024-11-21T18:02:31","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T18:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/?page_id=10010"},"modified":"2026-04-01T20:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:47:04","slug":"population-need","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/population-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Population Need"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n  <div class=\"banner has-hover hide-for-small\" id=\"banner-16190780\">\n          <div class=\"banner-inner fill\">\n        <div class=\"banner-bg fill\" >\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"877\" src=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2022\/08\/5-scaled.jpg\" class=\"bg attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"\" \/>                                    \n                    <\/div>\n\t\t\n        <div class=\"banner-layers container\">\n            <div class=\"fill banner-link\"><\/div>            \n\n   <div id=\"text-box-268879840\" class=\"text-box banner-layer x50 md-x50 lg-x50 y80 md-y80 lg-y80 res-text\">\n              <div data-parallax=\"2\" data-parallax-fade=\"true\">                  <div class=\"text-box-content text dark\">\n              \n              <div class=\"text-inner text-center\">\n                  \n\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-1717650541\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1286091174\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"ux-logo has-hover align-middle ux_logo inline-block\" style=\"max-width: 100%!important; width: 360px!important\"><div class=\"ux-logo-link block image-\" title=\"\" href=\"\" style=\"padding: 15px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/05\/WOHWLogotransparentbackground_filled.png\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" class=\"ux-logo-image block\" style=\"height:110px;\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n              <\/div>\n           <\/div>\n              <\/div>              \n<style>\n#text-box-268879840 {\n  width: 60%;\n}\n#text-box-268879840 .text-box-content {\n  font-size: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n    <\/div>\n \n\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n            \n<style>\n#banner-16190780 {\n  padding-top: 100px;\n  background-color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n<\/style>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1029633868\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ux-shape-divider ux-shape-divider--top ux-shape-divider--style-waves-opacity-3 ux-shape-divider--to-front\">\n\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 1000 300\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"ux-shape-fill\" opacity=\"0.05\" d=\"M1014 264V386H206L34 300C34 300 344.42 277.16 436 221C542 156 590 160 704 209C811 255 899.11 214.94 979 346L1014 264Z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"ux-shape-fill\" opacity=\"0.1\" d=\"M-302 55C-302 55 -66.73 263.25 50 214C178 160 283 116 353 141C445.68 174.1 534.28 256.19 588 249C692.9 235 764.52 75.94 855 131C940.61 183.09 1000 254 1000 254V328L-306 338L-302 55Z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"ux-shape-fill\" opacity=\"0.15\" d=\"M-286 255C-286 255 -72 152 52 126C176 100 255 155 436 227C581.57 284.91 614.7 277.79 708 227C787 184 1009 3.0001 1093 164C1146 265.63 1031 293 1031 293L924 377L-288 389L-286 255Z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"ux-shape-fill\" opacity=\"0.3\" d=\"M-24 69C-24 69 275.68 370.66 389 314C397 310 622 316 673 356C690.47 369.7 845 224 890 182C944.8 130.85 1018 92 1078 143C1154.12 207.7 1196 242 1196 242L1184 374L-28 386L-24 69Z\"\/>\n\t<path class=\"ux-shape-fill\" d=\"M-12 201C-12 201 58 284 182 258C306 232 342.29 221.23 456 264C565 305 640.82 288.36 721 249C776 222 837.5 191.31 935 253C984 284 1030 279 1030 279L1024 430L-12 440V201Z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"row row-collapse row-full-width\"  id=\"row-872817021\">\r\n\r\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1466170773\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Funding for WOHW ended on 12\/31\/2025. The information on this site remains accurate and usable as of that date. <br \/>While this work is no longer actively funded, we may make occasional updates to this archived site, which will be clearly noted when added.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\r\n\r\n\n<style>\n#row-872817021 > .col > .col-inner {\n  background-color: rgb(255, 103, 29);\n}\n<\/style>\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n  <div id=\"page-header-1725742040\" class=\"page-header-wrapper\">\n  <div class=\"page-title dark featured-title\">\n\n        <div class=\"page-title-bg\">\n      <div class=\"title-bg fill bg-fill\"\n        data-parallax-container=\".page-title\"\n        data-parallax-background\n        data-parallax=\"-\">\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"title-overlay fill\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"page-title-inner container align-center text-center flex-row-col medium-flex-wrap\" >\n              <div class=\"title-wrapper is-large flex-col\">\n          <h1 class=\"entry-title mb-0\">\n            Population Need  for Oral Health Care          <\/h1>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"page-title-sub op-7 flex-col\">\n          <p class=\"lead\">Capacity of the Oral Health Workforce to Meet Population Needs<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"title-content flex-col\">\n        <div class=\"title-breadcrumbs pb-half pt-half\"><\/div>      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n     \n<style>\n#page-header-1725742040 .featured-title {\n  background-color: rgba(120, 135, 176, 0.797);\n}\n<\/style>\n  <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n\t<div id=\"gap-1203872077\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1203872077 {\n  padding-top: 10px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n<div class=\"row row-collapse row-full-width align-center row-divided\"  id=\"row-1017203862\">\r\n\r\n\n\t<div id=\"col-258301044\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t<div id=\"stack-1927524193\" class=\"stack hide-for-small stack-row justify-center items-center\">\n\t\t\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/\" class=\"button secondary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Home<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/wa-dental-occupation-descriptions-capacity\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Occupations &amp; Descriptions<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.dropbtn{color:#f2682b}\r\n.dropdown {\r\n  position: relative;\r\n  display: inline-block;\r\n\r\n}\r\n\r\n.dropdown-content {\r\n  display: none;\r\n  position: absolute;\r\n  background-color: white;\r\n  width: 190px;\r\n  box-shadow: 0px 8px 16px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);\r\n  z-index: 1;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.dropdown-content a {\r\n  color: #f2682b;\r\n  padding: 12px 16px;\r\n  text-decoration: none;\r\n  display: block;\r\n}\r\n\r\n\r\n.dropdown:hover .dropdown-content {display: block;}\r\n\r\n.dropdown:hover .dropbtn {}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"dropdown\">\r\n  <button class=\"dropbtn\" style=\"margin-bottom:0!important\"><span><a class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"margin-bottom:0!important\" href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/\">Data & Findings<\/a><\/span><\/button>\r\n  <div class=\"dropdown-content\">\r\n\t\t\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/current-supply\/\">Distribution of Dental Occupations<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/survey-findings\/\">Survey Findings<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/demand-and-population-access\/\">Employer Demand<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/education-training\/\">Education and Training<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\t<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/population-need\/\">Population Need<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/reports-briefs\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Reports &amp; Briefs<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/news\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>In the News<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/links-to-related-reports-resources\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Related Resources<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/about\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>About<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/contact\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Contact<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n<style>\n#stack-1927524193 > * {\n  --stack-gap: 0rem;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\t<div id=\"stack-677422360\" class=\"stack show-for-small stack-row justify-center items-center sm:stack-col\">\n\t\t\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/\" class=\"button secondary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Home<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/wa-dental-occupation-descriptions-capacity\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Occupations &amp; Descriptions<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"accordion mini-menu-dropdown\">\r\n\r\n\t<div id=\"accordion-3598636093\" class=\"accordion-item button secondary is-underline is-large lowercase\">\n\t\t<a id=\"accordion-3598636093-label\" class=\"accordion-title plain\" href=\"#accordion-item-data-&#038;-findings\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-3598636093-content\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Data &amp; Findings<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div id=\"accordion-3598636093-content\" class=\"accordion-inner\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-3598636093-label\">\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/current-supply\/\">Distribution of Dental Occupations<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/survey-findings\/\">Survey Findings<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/demand-and-population-access\/\">Employer Demand<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/education-training\/\">Education and Training<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/reports-briefs\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Reports &amp; Briefs<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/news\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>In the News<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/workforce-data\/links-to-related-reports-resources\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Related Resources<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/about\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>About<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/resources\/wohw\/contact\/\" class=\"button primary is-underline is-large lowercase\" style=\"padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;\">\n\t\t<span>Contact<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n<style>\n#stack-677422360 > * {\n  --stack-gap: 0rem;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"gap-413317934\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-413317934 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-393200151\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1670101167\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<h4>Background<\/h4>\n<p>Access to oral health care is important for population health, yet many barriers to equitable oral health care access exist. The <a href=\"https:\/\/nccd.cdc.gov\/BRFSSPrevalence\/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=DPH_BRFSS.ExploreByTopic&amp;irbLocationType=StatesAndMMSA&amp;islClass=CLASS13&amp;islTopic=TOPIC16&amp;islYear=2022&amp;rdRnd=92192\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CDC<\/a> estimates that 65.9% of adults in the US have visited a dentist or dental clinic within the past year (as of 2022). The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ada.org\/resources\/research\/health-policy-institute\/coverage-access-outcomes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Dental Association<\/a> estimates that 78% of adults in the US have dental benefits. Many Washington residents face significant barriers to accessing equitable oral health care, including financial constraints, geographic disparities, and workforce shortages. Understanding where and for what populations these barriers exist is essential for policymakers and planners to identify gaps in access, workforce distribution, and service delivery, allowing for targeted resource allocation to areas of greatest need.<\/p>\n<p>On this page, you will find:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>WOHW Population Need Analyses<\/strong>: Findings from WOHW\u2019s analyses of available data related to population need and dentist distribution in Washington state<\/li>\n<li><strong>Arcora &#8211; Access to Dental Care<\/strong>: An interactive dashboard from the <a href=\"https:\/\/arcorafoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arcora Foundation<\/a> that summarizes analyses of dental utilization and access to care in Washington state.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row row-small align-center\" style=\"max-width:1500px\" id=\"row-978756121\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1531360605\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"tabbed-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<ul class=\"nav nav-tabs nav-uppercase nav-size-normal nav-left\" role=\"tablist\"><li id=\"tab-wohw-population-need-analyses\" class=\"tab active has-icon\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"#tab_wohw-population-need-analyses\" role=\"tab\" aria-selected=\"true\" aria-controls=\"tab_wohw-population-need-analyses\"><span>WOHW Population Need Analyses<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"tab-arcora- --access-to-dental-care\" class=\"tab has-icon\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"#tab_arcora- --access-to-dental-care\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"tab\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"tab_arcora- --access-to-dental-care\"><span>Arcora  - Access to Dental Care<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"tab-panels\"><div id=\"tab_wohw-population-need-analyses\" class=\"panel active entry-content\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"tab-wohw-population-need-analyses\">\n\n<div class=\"row row-full-width\"  id=\"row-392074035\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-336722982\" class=\"col medium-7 small-12 large-7\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p>WOHW conducted an analysis to estimate oral health population need (dental visits and dental insurance coverage) in comparison with the number of dentists in each <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hca.wa.gov\/about-hca\/programs-and-initiatives\/medicaid-transformation-project-mtp\/accountable-communities-health-achs\">Accountable Community of Health<\/a> (ACH) of the state. <\/p>\n<p>Population oral health data came from the <a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/data-and-statistical-reports\/data-systems\/behavioral-risk-factor-surveillance-system-brfss\">Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS),<\/a> a yearly survey that collects data from adults aged 18 years or older conducted by the Washington State Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dentist workforce data came from WOHW\u2019s analysis of state licensure data.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h4>Findings<\/h4>\n<p>In Washington state in 2022, 68.1% of adults reported they had visited a dentist, dental hygienist or dental clinic within the past year and 70.5% of adults in Washington had some kind of insurance coverage that pays for some or all of routine dental care, including dental insurance, prepaid plans such as HMOs, or government plans such as Medicaid.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-29248645\" class=\"col medium-5 small-12 large-5\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p>Results from these analysis can be found in the brief titled \u201c<em><a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/Data-Brief-Dentist-Distribution-and-Population-Dental-Need-2022.pdf\">Dentist Distribution and Population Need<\/a>\u201d<\/em> and below.<\/p>\n\t<div class=\"box has-hover   has-hover box-overlay dark box-text-bottom\" >\n\n\t\t<div class=\"box-image\" style=\"width:49%;\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/Data-Brief-Dentist-Distribution-and-Population-Dental-Need-2022.pdf\" >\t\t\t<div class=\"\" >\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1128\" height=\"1374\" src=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-14-at-10.48.37\u202fPM.png\" class=\"attachment- size-\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-14-at-10.48.37\u202fPM.png 1128w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-14-at-10.48.37\u202fPM-246x300.png 246w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-14-at-10.48.37\u202fPM-841x1024.png 841w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-14-at-10.48.37\u202fPM-768x935.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1128px) 100vw, 1128px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"overlay\" style=\"background-color:1\"><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"box-text text-center\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"box-text-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\t<div id=\"text-1837195087\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<p>The figures below compare ACH rankings of BRFSS oral health access measures with dentist-to-population ratios based on state licenses.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1837195087 {\n  text-align: center;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row row-full-width\"  id=\"row-86632726\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1681907822\" class=\"col medium-4 small-12 large-4\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_706522417\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"563\" height=\"445\" src=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-map.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-map.png 563w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-map-300x237.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 563px) 100vw, 563px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_706522417 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-877124401\" class=\"col medium-8 small-12 large-8\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1225712032\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1015\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-graph.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-graph.png 1015w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-graph-300x123.png 300w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-graph-768x315.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1015px) 100vw, 1015px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1225712032 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n<p>Healthier Here, the ACH for King County, had the highest relative number of dentists (130 dentists per 100,000 population, Figure 1) and the highest percentages of adults who reported having been to the dentist within the past year (74.6%, Figure 2) and having dental insurance coverage (77.4%, Figure 3).<\/p>\n<p>Thriving Together ACH (encompassing Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties) and Choice ACH (encompassing Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties) had the lowest relative number of dentists (51 and 49 per 100,000 population, respectively, Figure 1), the lowest percentage of adults who reported having visited a dentist within the past year (66.5% and 65.8%, respectively, Figure 2), and the lowest percentage of adults with dental insurance coverage (63.9% and 57.3% respectively, Figure 3).<\/p>\n<div class=\"row row-full-width align-center\"  id=\"row-914908101\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1300469239\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_845753071\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1015\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-graph-3.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-graph-3.png 1015w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-graph-3-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dentist-distribution-graph-3-768x364.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1015px) 100vw, 1015px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_845753071 {\n  width: 66%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n<p>Based on 2022 BRFSS data, ACHs with the highest percentages of adults reporting having dental insurance also had the highest percentage of adults reporting having visited a dentist within the past year (Figure 4). The ACH ranking order for insurance coverage matched the ranking order for percentage visiting a dentist across all ACHs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row row-full-width\"  id=\"row-151405073\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1452663200\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_230525843\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dental-distribution-graph-4.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dental-distribution-graph-4.png 1016w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dental-distribution-graph-4-300x137.png 300w, https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/12\/dental-distribution-graph-4-768x350.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_230525843 {\n  width: 66%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n<h4>Key Takeaways<\/h4>\n<p>The findings described in this brief based on dentist licenses and BRFSS data illustrate that dental visits are correlated with insurance coverage, suggesting increasing access to dental care requires attention to the financing and reimbursement of the services as well as strengthening the supply and distribution of dentists across the state. <br \/>Continued focus on enhancing and strengthening the oral health workforce in rural areas of the state is also important. <br \/>As reported by the <a href=\"https:\/\/wa.sentinelnetwork.org\/findings\/rural-urban\/\">Washington Health Workforce Sentinel Network<\/a>, it can be difficult to recruit providers to rural areas, and this extends to oral healthcare settings. There are several programs in Washington aimed at addressing the shortage of dental providers in rural areas of the state, including:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li>The University of Washington School of Dentistry Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (<a href=\"https:\/\/dental.washington.edu\/uw-rural-dentistry-program-helping-to-fill-vital-need-across-washington\/\">RIDE<\/a>) trains dental students to work in rural and underserved areas.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic offers a one-year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yvfwc.com\/residencies\/northwest-dental-residency\/\">Northwest Dental Residency Program<\/a> serving rural communities in eastern Washington.<\/li>\n<li>A new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pnwu.edu\/academics\/school-of-dental-medicine\/\">School of Dental Medicine<\/a> is opening at Pacific Northwest University in Yakima with a focus on educating dentists to serve in rural and underserved communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ongoing tracking of data that describe Washington\u2019s oral health workforce supply and distribution, as well as updates to information about insurance coverage and access to dental services in the state, are needed to address the population\u2019s oral health care needs.<\/p>\n<p><u>Limitations<\/u>: There are limitations with the data used for this report. We are not able to determine if the address associated with a dentist\u2019s license is where they are currently practicing, or if they are currently practicing. <a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/data-and-statistical-reports\/data-systems\/behavioral-risk-factor-surveillance-system-brfss\/brfss-collecting-data\">BRFSS<\/a> data are collected via a voluntary telephone survey and participation may not be representative of the entire population. BRFSS data do not indicate why people have not visited the dentist in the past or why they lack dental insurance. We also cannot determine if individuals are going to the dentist in the same ACH as where they live.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Data sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>State licensure data: <\/em>Using mailing addresses provided in Washington State Department of Health licensure data, we analyzed dentist licenses for 2022. As this data is based on address provided in the dentist license, there is no indication of whether the dentist is actively practicing or practicing in the ZIP code\/county of the license address.<\/li>\n<li><em>BRFSS data: <\/em>The Washington State Department of Health partners with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which is a yearly survey and collects data from adults aged 18 years or older. Limitations of the data can be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/data-and-statistical-reports\/data-systems\/behavioral-risk-factor-surveillance-system-brfss\/brfss-collecting-data\">https:\/\/doh.wa.gov\/data-and-statistical-reports\/data-systems\/behavioral-risk-factor-surveillance-system-brfss\/brfss-collecting-data<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><em>ACHs: <\/em>There are nine ACHs in Washington. Each ACH is composed of one or more counties and is responsible for coordinating healthcare initiatives in the counties it oversees. Although each ACH is unique, they share a common approach to improving the health of their communities and changing health care delivery. Here is a map of the ACHs in Washington State and the counties they represent: https:\/\/www.hca.wa.gov\/assets\/program\/ach-map.pdf. For more information on ACHs: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hca.wa.gov\/about-hca\/programs-and-initiatives\/medicaid-transformation-project-mtp\/accountable-communities-health-achs\">https:\/\/www.hca.wa.gov\/about-hca\/programs-and-initiatives\/medicaid-transformation-project-mtp\/accountable-communities-health-achs<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tab_arcora- --access-to-dental-care\" class=\"panel entry-content\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"tab-arcora- --access-to-dental-care\">\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/arcorafoundation.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Arcora Foundation<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> works to advance oral health across Washington state. Arcora\u2019s mission is to bend the arc of oral health toward equity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Arcora <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/arcorafoundation.org\/access-to-dental-care-dashboard\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cAccess to Dental Care\u201d dashboard<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> summarizes the dental utilization and access to care in Washington state, including Medicaid utilization, prevalence of dental insurance, access to oral health care among other information about oral health needs in Washington.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wtb.wa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1.-8.28.25-Health-Workforce-Council-mtg_Arcora-Foundation_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> See also the Arcora report on Oral Health Access and Status Across Washington<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How to use:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Select tabs along the top to view each dashboard.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:&#091;8226&#093;,&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hover over maps and charts to view specific data points and interact with the data.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:&#091;8226&#093;,&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Drop-down menus and indicators can be used to select data sets where available.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:&#091;8226&#093;,&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Each corresponding dashboard lists data sources.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class='tableauPlaceholder' id='viz1732579215080' style='position: relative'><a href='https:&#047;&#047;arcorafoundation.org&#047;'><img alt=' ' src='https:&#047;&#047;public.tableau.com&#047;static&#047;images&#047;Wa&#047;WashingtonStateAccesstoDentalCare2020&#047;MedicaidUtilizationbyAgeGroups_1&#047;1_rss.png' style='border: none' \/><\/a><object>   <\/object><\/div>                                    var divElement = document.getElementById(&#8216;viz1732579215080&#8217;);                    var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName(&#8216;object&#8217;)[0];                    vizElement.style.width=&#8217;100%&#8217;;vizElement.style.height=&#8217;900px&#8217;;                    var scriptElement = document.createElement(&#8216;script&#8217;);                    scriptElement.src = &#8216;https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/javascripts\/api\/viz_v1.js&#8217;;                    vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement);\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>More on Arcora&#8217;s work as it relates to population need can be found in their presentation\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wtb.wa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1.-8.28.25-Health-Workforce-Council-mtg_Arcora-Foundation_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Oral Health Access and Status Across Washington<\/em><\/a> presented to the Washington Health Workforce Council in August 2025.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1029633868 {\n  padding-top: 30px;\n  padding-bottom: 30px;\n  background-color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n#section_1029633868 .ux-shape-divider--top svg {\n  height: 150px;\n  --divider-top-width: 100%;\n}\n#section_1029633868 .ux-shape-divider--top .ux-shape-fill {\n  fill: rgb(69, 63, 97);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6660,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-blank.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10010","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10010"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10010\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11549,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10010\/revisions\/11549"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/chws\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}