Navigating Emerging Challenges in U.S. Public Dental Health: Aging, Pandemics, and Technology

Dr. Latifa Elbanna¹, Dr. Mohammed Imran Idrees^2, , Dr. Unseba³, Dr. Sruthi Kalakota⁴, Dr. Sonal Ugalmugle⁵, Dr. Sowmya Yelagandula⁶ and Dr. Sandeep Singh⁶

¹(PhD, Prosthodontics) Faculty of Dental Medicine - AlAzhar University, Cairo, Egypt

²BDS, MPH, St Francis College, Brooklyn, United States

³BDS, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, 2-R Sunset Boulevard, Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan 4BDS, Drs. Sudha & Nageswara Rao Siddartha Institute of Dental Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, India

⁴BDS, NTR university of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

⁵MDS (Prosthodontics), Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, India

⁶7MDS (Prosthodontics), Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, India

Cite this paper:
Dr. Latifa Elbanna, Dr. Mohammed Imran Idrees, Dr. Unseba, Dr. Sruthi Kalakota, Dr. Sonal Ugalmugle, Dr. Sowmya Yelagandula and Dr. Sandeep Singh. Navigating Emerging Challenges in U.S. Public Dental Health: Aging, Pandemics, and Technology. American Journal of Public Health Research. 2026; 14(2):38-43. doi: 10.12691/ajphr-14-2-4

Abstract

Oral health is an essential component of overall health and well-being, yet significant challenges continue to shape the delivery and accessibility of public dental services in the United States. This review examines three converging forces transforming U.S. public dental health: demographic aging, pandemic-related disruptions, and rapid technological advancement. The aging population, projected to comprise nearly one in five Americans by 2030, presents increasing demands for geriatric-focused dental care, including prevention and management of caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer. Concurrently, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural vulnerabilities in dental care systems, resulting in widespread disruptions to preventive services, delayed treatment, and heightened disparities in access. At the same time, innovations such as tele-dentistry, artificial intelligence–assisted diagnostics, and digital health integration have emerged as potential solutions to expand access and enhance care delivery, though questions remain regarding cost-effectiveness, equity, and long-term outcomes. This review synthesizes current evidence on these intersecting challenges and evaluates their implications for policy, workforce development, and public health planning. It identifies critical research gaps, including the need for longitudinal data on pandemic-related oral health outcomes and rigorous evaluation of emerging technologies in community settings. Strengthening integration between dentistry and broader healthcare systems, expanding preventive infrastructure, and adopting proactive policy reforms are essential to building a resilient and equitable public dental health framework. Addressing these challenges collectively will be central to improving oral health outcomes and advancing population health across the United States.

Keywords:
Public health Pandemic Aging Covid 19 Infection control

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