State-level variation in Medicaid dental coverage for services beneficial to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Abstract

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) experience lifelong challenges (usually present at birth), which profoundly affect their physical, intellectual, and emotional development, including their ability to learn, reason, problem solve, and socialize. These adults may face substantial health challenges, particularly in managing their oral health. Due to health obstacles that may include neuromuscular problems, uncontrolled bodily movements, limited mental capabilities, and mobility problems, these adults may struggle to maintain proper oral hygiene and health. These limitations are further amplified by socioeconomic and psychosocial factors that impede optimal oral health, such as financial constraints, communication barriers, dental anxiety, and sensory sensitivities. Ultimately, these compounding issues for adults with IDDs result in a high burden of dental disease, with one-third experiencing untreated caries and more than 80% experiencing periodontal disease.