Many oral health leaders are optimistic that the incoming Congress will bring improvements to patient care and accessibility.
Here is how the results could impact dental care, and what providers and executives want to see next:
The midterm results
Democrats gained control of the House and Senate, marking the first time the opposition party has controlled both chambers during a Republican presidency since the 2006 election. As of 12:10 p.m. Central Time, Democrats held 243 seats in the House and 52 in the Senate, according to the Associated Press.
Republicans retain control of both chambers until the new Congress is sworn in Jan. 3.
What the results could mean for healthcare and dentistry
Healthcare affordability is a top area of focus for Democrats, according to a 100-page health policy agenda obtained by Politico in September. This includes reinstating the enhanced ACA premium tax credits that Congress allowed to expire at the end of 2025 and reversing Medicaid cuts enacted under H.R. 1.
Decreased Medicaid funding led to several states enacting or weighing cuts to dental funding as a way to save money. For example, Colorado implemented a $3,000 annual cap for dental benefits, while Washington, California and Idaho cut reimbursements rates.
Another legislative item that would have a large impact on dental care is the expansion of dental coverage under Medicare. U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson plans to reintroduce the Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act in the next Congress. The bill would repeal the statutory exclusion that currently prohibits Medicare from covering most dental, vision and hearing care, and expand benefits to include items such as dentures, preventive and emergency dental care.
This news comes shortly after a poll showed that nine in 10 voters support Medicare dental benefits and dental coverage for veterans eligible for VA healthcare.
Democrats have also expressed interest in breaking up insurers and addressing vertical integration in healthcare, a growing concern among dental leaders.
According to a March 2026 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the three largest dental insurers have a median market share of 66.8%. This consolidation has opened the door to vertical integration, with insurance entities acquiring DSOs and positioning themselves to compete directly with the practices they contract with.
The American Dental Association has repeatedly pushed for increased payer accountability this year, most recently pressing lawmakers to not overlook dentistry in its broader insurance reform efforts.
What oral health leaders want to see
The agenda items align with much of what oral health providers and executives would like to see take place in the coming months.
“I’d like to see changes in Medicaid funding, eligibility, and reimbursement policies that can benefit children and underserved populations,” Barry Lyon, DDS, told Becker’s. “Cuts in Medicaid along with banning fluoride in public water supplies was a double whammy affecting children most in need of care.”
Melissa Burroughs, the senior director of public policy for the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, urged lawmakers to listen to what patients are most focused on, including affordability and accessibility. She told Becker’s that she is encouraged by recent bipartisan legislation that would improve dental care access, including the Dental Care for Veterans Act and the SMILE for Veterans Act.
“Congress should move these proposals forward, bolster federal funding, and keep working to ensure all Americans have access to affordable dental care,” Ms. Burroughs said. “It’s also critical for lawmakers to protect the coverage people already have. With states facing significant budget pressures, we’re particularly concerned about proposals to cut or eliminate Medicaid adult dental benefits, which would put essential care further out of reach for millions of Americans.”
