This needs assessment is an update from 2019 and summarizes data on population demographics, oral health behaviors and outcomes, and community supports and assets for San Diego County. Findings from local community health needs assessments, population surveys, utilization data, and Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment data were compiled. 

Findings: County-level findings are summarized below: 

Access to dental care 

• Over 200,000 San Diego County residents live in areas experiencing a shortage of dentists for Medi-Cal-eligible and low-income populations, 65% of which are underserved. 
• Lack of access to dental care and dental insurance disproportionately impacts Black and Latino populations. 
• About 400,000 residents are estimated to be impacted by state and federal changes to MediCal.

Oral Health by population group 

• Despite the recommendation that children visit the dentist by age 1, 23% of San Diego County children aged 1-4 have never been to the dentist. 
• Based on 2024–2025 Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment data, tooth decay and urgent dental care needs were higher among students entering schools in low-income communities. 
• Though most (89%) foster youth received a timely dental exam in 2024-2025, there is a need to link transitional youth aged 17-21 in foster care to a dental home. 
• According to 2023–2024 survey data, nearly a third (30%) of adults with a disability did not have dental insurance. 
• The majority (54%) of women with Medi-Cal with a recent live birth did not receive a dental visit during pregnancy in 2022-2023. 
• The majority (72%) of seniors with Medi-Cal did not receive an annual dental visit in 2023. 

Supports for community oral health 

• In 2024, 2.9 million San Diego County residents had access to fluoridated water. 
• Registered Dental Hygienists in Alternative Practice (RDHAPs) and school-based oral health programs address oral health disparities by reducing barriers to accessing dental care and preventive services. 
• Examples of collaborative efforts to improve oral health in San Diego County include the Senior Oral Health Partnership and the San Diego County Oral Health Coalition.