Many factors contribute to the ability of Arkansans to live full, healthy lives, with one of the most important being access to quality medical care and treatment from well-trained professionals who live and work in local communities.

Dental hygiene and preventive treatment are important components in attaining that goal. In fact, oral disease can lead to serious health complications like heart disease and endocarditis, as well as pneumonia and even complications with pregnancy that can result in premature birth and low birth weight.

This reality clearly demonstrates the need to prioritize oral health, but it can be hard to do so without convenient access to dental care. That has been a challenge in our state historically.

The America's Health Rankings 2024 Annual Report showed that just 55.6 percent of adult Arkansans reported visiting a dentist in the........

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