Senator Aisha Wahab’s Smile Act Passes Senate Health With Unanimous Vote

SB 980 Would Have Dental Implants Covered by Medi-Cal

Sacramento, CA — Senator Aisha Wahab’s (D-Silicon Valley) Senate Bill 980, The Smile Act, expands dental implant benefits for Medi-Cal recipients and passed the Senate Health Committee. SB 980 is a bipartisan effort with 24 Senators as co-authors.

“We have an aging population that needs teeth to have a good quality of life. Proactive investments in oral health for our most vulnerable will reduce pressures on our healthcare system and yield long-term savings in other healthcare domains,” says Senator Wahab. “There is no point in being the fourth largest economy if we don’t provide for our vulnerable communities.”

A 2022 California Health Interview Survey found that 61.6% of adults reported fair to poor condition of teeth or no natural teeth. According to a 2020 policy brief from UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 64% of low-income adults have Medi-Cal, making implants covered under Medi-Cal a logical choice for improving oral health amongst vulnerable populations. 

SB 980 now goes to Senate Appropriations.