TCWH Announces Findings from 2024 Tompkins County Oral Health Survey

Published on March 20, 2025

pie chart depicting percentage of youth in Tompkins County who have experienced issues finding dental care

Today, Thursday March 20th, marks World Oral Health Day, a global recognition of the importance of oral health to a person’s overall wellness. Proper oral health hygiene is connected to improved physical health and mental wellbeing. Knowing the significance healthy teeth, gums and mouths can play on our health, Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) undertook a survey last year to learn more about the status of oral health in our community, with a particular focus on youth oral health.

TCWH is now able to share with the community findings from our 2024 Oral Health Survey, which highlighted significant disparities in oral health care across the county. The survey, conducted between February and April 2024, received 645 responses. The goal was to better understand the state of children’s oral health in the county, while also gathering data on the community’s overall oral health habits, access to dental care, and perspectives on fluoride use. The results will play a key role in shaping initiatives to improve oral health and ensure better access to dental care for all.

The survey demonstrated positive oral health behavior among residents:

  • About 60% of parents surveyed reported their children maintain a regular dental care routine, such as brushing their teeth at least twice a day.
  • Around 82% of parents surveyed reported their children receive fluoride treatment from a dentist or pediatrician.
  • There is an increased awareness of the benefits of fluoride, with 80% of respondents believing that fluoride is beneficial for teeth. However, there were subgroups of parents of young children identified who are not aware of the effectiveness and safety of fluoride.

As a result of these finding, TCWH aims to address this knowledge gap and ensure families understand the benefits of fluoride. TCWH supports the use of fluoride both in the home and as part of professional applications in dental and pediatric offices. Fluoride plays a crucial role in preventing tooth decay and promoting strong, healthy teeth, which is why it is a key part of our approach to improving children's dental health.

The survey also revealed disparities that need to be addressed:

  • Nearly half of the survey respondents reported traveling outside of the county to obtain dental treatment for their children. This includes traveling about an hour or more for dental care.
  • More than half of the survey respondents reported difficulties finding a dentist in Tompkins County. Among those who struggled to find dental care:
    • 40% had trouble locating a dentist who accepted their child's insurance.
    • 36% found it difficult to access a pediatric dentist.
    • 10% faced challenges in obtaining reliable information about available dental providers in the county.

For example, many families report that they are unable to find dentists who accept Medicaid. Low Medicaid reimbursement rates make it very challenging for dentists to provide the necessary care for children covered by Medicaid. Having no insurance or insurance that is inadequate results in longer periods between dental visits for children, further compounding the challenges in accessing essential care. These barriers are contributing to the overall lack of access to crucial dental care for children and families.

In response to the findings, the Tompkins County Board of Health (BOH), at their February 25, 2025 meeting, unanimously accepted the findings of the Whole Health Oral Health Survey and expressed strong support of efforts to improve children’s oral health in Tompkins County.  

Next steps:

  1. Whole Health is sharing this information not only with the public but with individuals and organizations in the County in an effort to form partnerships that can arrive at solutions to the problem areas identified. Interested partners are asked to contact us at publichealth@tompkins-co.org.
  2. Findings have been shared with the 6th District Dental Society, which represents the majority of dentists in our region, and have extended an invitation for their participation in working toward these solutions.
  3. TCWH will promote these efforts with community members at upcoming events and on social media.

For more information about the oral health survey, visit: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health/oral-health-survey

To access the full report, visit: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/oral-health-survey-report.pdf

For additional local resources on providers and insurance, information on oral health care and more, visit: www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health/oralhealth

Tompkins County Whole Health: envisioning a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X. Sign up to receive Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text.

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