Disparities in Dental Care Access, Oral Cancer Counseling, and Oral Cancer Examination Among U.S. Adults with a History of Cancer: Results from NHANES, 2015–2018

This study examined disparities in access to dental care among U.S. adults with a history of cancer and identified factors associated with receiving oral cancer examination and counseling. Data were drawn from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including 11,281 adults aged 20 years and older, representing a weighted U.S. population of approximately 236.5 million. Weighted logistic regression models were used to assess associations between cancer history and unmet dental needs, oral cancer counseling, and oral cancer examination, adjusting for demographic and behavioral factors. Overall, 11.1% of participants reported a history of cancer, with higher prevalence observed among older adults, non-Hispanic Whites, and former smokers. Individuals with a cancer history reported lower levels of unmet dental needs compared to those without cancer (11.6% vs. 19.5%). However, they were more likely to receive oral cancer counseling (36.4% vs. 26.2%) and oral cancer examinations (41.7% vs. 26.4%). Adjusted analyses showed that cancer history was associated with reduced odds of unmet dental needs (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58-1.00) and increased odds of receiving oral cancer counseling (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01-1.86) and examination (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07-1.78). Despite these findings, disparities persist in access to preventive oral health services.