Dental health is an important part of people's overall health and well-being. While often dismissed as a cosmetic problem, poor oral care is intrinsically linked to the health of the entire body, making proper dental care critically important for people of all ages. Yet despite extensive and ongoing education efforts around the importance of proper oral hygiene, conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss are prevalent for many, with CDC data showing that over a quarter of adults and more than one in ten children are currently living with untreated tooth decay.
Neglected oral health is even more common in lower-income populations with KFF reporting that one-fourth of children with household incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) have at least one or more oral health problems. This is why Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), designed to reduce cost barriers to care, are so critical to increasing access to proper oral health treatment. Today all children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP have coverage for dental services–including check-ups, X-rays, fluoride treatments, dental sealants, fillings, and more – but connecting them to available high-quality treatment remains challenging at best.
According to 2024 Medicaid numbers, 37,300,782 individuals were enrolled in CHIP or were children enrolled in the Medicaid program in the 49 states and the District of Columbia that reported child enrollment data. Yet, the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute reports that while 43% of U.S. dentists are signed up to accept Medicaid or CHIP plans for children, 67% of them did not treat a single child covered by one of these plans. At Benevis, our team is deeply committed to tackling these roadblocks to proper care once and for all, supporting disadvantaged families along their longitudinal journeys to better oral health. In fact, 82% of our patients rely on Medicaid and CHIP plans for coverage today. Operating in over 100 locally branded dental homes, our dental care network comprised of over 350 dentists in 13 states and Washington, D.C., is dedicated to ensuring that every child receives the proper oral health treatments they deserve which includes general dentistry, orthodontics, or oral and maxillofacial surgery services.
As an organization, Benevis tends to attract like-minded dental professionals committed to providing care to underserved patients. When joining our team, new hires are often attracted by our shared mission of serving those in greatest need. Over the past 20 years, Benevis has made demonstrable strides in delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to those who need it most, providing the highest quality care to approximately five million children and adults. Today, we are delivering treatment through 1.4 million visits each year, but as the need for our dental services grows, so does our footprint.
As we work to meet the evolving oral health needs of this unique patient population, Benevis is always looking to expand our team of talented individuals who share our mission and our passion for giving back to the communities that we serve. For states where child Medicaid/CHIP enrollees’ numbers are high like Virginia (876,314), Georgia (1,399,535), Indiana (817,968), and South Carolina (679,408), the need for expanded access to cover treatment for the underserved is great and the personal and professional rewards caring for this population are numerous.
Are you interested in joining us in our mission to eradicate obstacles to high-quality, compassionate oral care, improve smiles, and enhance the whole health of the disadvantaged patients in your state? Please reach out today. We’d love to meet you!