Researchers from Rutgers University reveal that higher levels of firearm violence in neighborhoods are associated with reduced dental care utilization and increased rates of complete tooth loss, known as edentulism. Their analysis, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, examined data from over 20,000 census tracts across the U.S. from 2014 to 2022, highlighting a significant connection between community violence and public health outcomes.
The study found that while about 60% of residents reported visiting a dentist in the past year, this figure varied widely, ranging from as low as 18% to 89%. Chronic exposure to violence not only instills fear but also contributes to stress and unhealthy behaviors that negatively impact oral health. “Firearm violence doesn’t just shape public safety, it shapes health behaviors,” cautioned Daniel Semenza, a director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. The findings stress the urgent need to address violence as a pressing public health crisis affecting essential medical care.
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