Colorado’s Dental Dashboard Opens the Door to Better Care
Oral health is often overlooked, but it plays a major role in our overall well-being. Until recently, Colorado lacked a clear, data-driven picture of who’s getting care, and who isn’t.
This changed with the launch of Colorado’s first-ever dental health dashboard, a joint effort by CIVHC and the Colorado Dental Association (CDA). Built using commercial claims from the Colorado All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD), this public dashboard shines a light on trends in utilization, spending, and disparities from 2022 through 2024.
“This resource will help inform oral health policy and drive legislative advocacy that reduces barriers to care and supports meaningful access to dental treatment for Coloradans.”
Molly Pereira
Routine checkups (D0120) topped the list of procedures, reflecting steady use of preventive care. However, the data also reveals growth in complex services like implants and crowns, suggesting increasing reliance on higher-cost restorative procedures.
What the Data Shows in 2024:
- 1.6 million dental services were provided across Colorado
- $485 million in total spending
- Average cost per person: $285
- Utilization averaged 78 unique services per 1,000 people.*
*Utilization rates are calculated based on unique services per populations of 1,000. This rate is based on the number of unique service types used, not the number of times the service is used. For example, even if many people receive dental cleanings within a group of 1,000 residents, dental cleaning is counted as one unique service for that group.
Uncovering Gaps in Access
The dashboard’s demographic filters help reveal distinct differences in care that include:
- Males consistently accessed fewer services than females
- Young adults (18–34) had the lowest utilization by age group
- Use was lowest among individuals identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Two or More Races
View a recorded presentation on the dashboard from our CO APCD Research Showcase
Data That Drives Change
According to CDA’s Lauren Harvey, this is a major step forward in transparency. In the past, oral health data often came from self-reported surveys or insurer requests, rarely offering a complete view.
Now, providers, advocates, and decision-makers can use this data to:
- Identify access gaps
- Inform public program improvements
- Support reimbursement reform
The dashboard includes filterable views by geography, payer, and procedure type. Users can sort CDT codes, compare payer reimbursements, and download visualizations for use in presentations or advocacy.
If you’re a provider, payer, researcher, or community leader looking to better serve Coloradans, CIVHC can help. Through access to CO APCD data, analytic support, evaluation, and research services, we work with partners across the state to identify gaps, support better care, and reduce disparities.
Contact us at info@civhc.org