The Impacts of Federal Economic and Health Policies on Dental School Care Centers, Dental Student Education, and Patient Care

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Background This paper analyzes the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBB) and evolving federal policies on dental education and access to oral health care, particularly for Medicaid populations. Dental schools heavily depend on Medicaid for clinical revenue and patient visits, functioning as crucial care centers for underserved communities.Methods and Results The OBBB introduces new Medicaid eligibility requirements, including work mandates and biannual verification, and imposes copayments for some recipients. These changes may create barriers to care, potentially reducing patient numbers and dental school funding. Additionally, modifications to SNAP thresholds, state contributions, and restrictions on eligibility for certain immigrant groups further complicate access to care. Moreover, the consolidation of research institutes and increased political oversight of federal grantmaking threaten the autonomy and focus of dental research.Conclusion and Practical Implications Collectively, these policy shifts challenge dental schools’ ability to fulfill their tripartite health missions, to educate future practitioners, provide access to quality oral health care for vulnerable populations and to improve the profession through basic and applied research.

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