Results show a significant majority of Americans believe that routine dental appointments remain important during the pandemic.

Today, the Delta Dental Institute released new survey data highlighting Americans’ views on oral health during COVID-19. Results show a significant majority of Americans believe that routine dental appointments remain important during the pandemic: 69% of Americans agree the benefits of a routine dentist appointment outweigh the potential risks of delaying preventive care, while 67% of Americans worry about the negative long-term health consequences of delaying a routine dental appointment.

“These results underscore the importance of oral health to overall health,” said Vivian Vasallo, executive director of the Delta Dental Institute. “Even in this uncertain environment, Americans know they need to prioritize preventive oral health care. Oral health is health, and routine dental care is critical to preventing and managing chronic health problems.”

The strong support for routine dental appointments during COVID-19 reflects broad agreement about oral health’s importance more generally. The Delta Dental Institute’s survey also found that 91% of Americans believe taking care of their oral health now will help prevent other health problems later. These results are consistent across demographics, demonstrating a widespread understanding of the value of oral health care. Clinical research has shown links between oral health and social well-being, cardiovascular health, respiratory health, and positive pregnancy outcomes.

The survey was conducted online by Echelon Insights on behalf of the Delta Dental Institute from September 19 to September 25, 2020, among 1,018 registered U.S. voters who self-reported as “likely” to vote.