"Dental Caries and Preventive Dental Visits Among Children in the U.S.: The Impact of Race/Ethnicity and Immigration"

This national study by Luo et al. highlights how oral health disparities among U.S. children are structured not only by race and ethnicity but also by immigration status and neighborhood environment. From an anthropological lens, the findings reflect how sociopolitical determinants like language, culture, and structural marginalization intersect to shape access to care. First-generation immigrant children—especially those who are Asian American or non-Hispanic Black—had the highest rates of dental caries and the lowest rates of preventive dental visits, revealing the compounded impact of immigrant status and racial/ethnic minority identity.

The article supports intersectionality theory, suggesting that risk is not simply additive but multiplicative—where being both an immigrant and a racial/ethnic minority intensifies oral health vulnerability. While prior research focused on specific populations or regions, this national analysis using NSCH data broadens the scope and introduces a new layer of analysis by quantifying how immigrant status and neighborhood conditions influence oral health outcomes. Children living in supportive neighborhoods had better outcomes, underscoring how oral health is embedded within larger social ecologies.

This research challenges the idea that assimilation alone improves health outcomes. Speaking English at home was associated with better oral health, yet even second-generation Asian immigrant children remained less likely to receive preventive care, suggesting that structural barriers persist despite cultural integration. Importantly, the study calls for culturally tailored health promotion delivered through trusted community channels—echoing anthropological emphasis on culturally responsive care and local agency.

By showing that preventive dental visits and dental caries are both outcomes and predictors of one another, the study also reflects the cyclical nature of disadvantage: children who cannot access early preventive care are more likely to need reactive treatment later, and may only enter the system once problems arise. This feedback loop mirrors anthropological observations of how delayed access to care entrenches inequality over time.

Ultimately, this research advances the anthropological understanding that oral health disparities are not merely individual or behavioral but are structured by migration histories, racial hierarchies, and neighborhood-level inequities. The findings underscore the need for oral health interventions that address cultural norms, systemic barriers, and intergenerational disadvantage, especially for immigrant families navigating unfamiliar systems with limited resources.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065424000488