Medicaid Dental Coverage and Preventive Dental Care Use Among Pregnant Adults

Having dental insurance is critically important to be able to access needed dental care and avoid substantial out-of-pocket costs. This study found that for pregnant adults in Medicaid who who hadn't had a dental cleaning in the year prior to pregnancy, having extensive dental coverage was significantly associated with much higher odds of having a dental cleaning during pregnancy relative to having emergency or no dental coverage. Our findings, together with the body of evidence on the impact of Medicaid dental coverage on dental care access, underscore the importance of providing comprehensive dental coverage in Medicaid regardless of age and pregnancy status.