Preventive service utilisation as a predictor for emergency dental examinations

To quantify the relationship between receipt of routine dental care and the use of non-trauma related emergency dental services.

A multiple logistic regression was run on administrative dental claim and encounter data. The model dependent variable was the use of non-trauma related emergency dental care. Predictors included previous year oral examinations, radiographs, dental cleanings and, as a control, member age.

Administrative data were obtained from a dental health maintenance organisation located in the state of Texas.

Claim and encounter data for 2,947 insured members were used, representing experience from 1995 through 1996.

The outcome of interest was the use of non-trauma related emergency dental services.

Results demonstrated empirically that those who availed themselves of preventive dental services were significantly less likely to use non-trauma related emergency services (P<0.01). The probability of needing non-trauma related dental services in 1996 was 42.7% lower among those who had an examination in 1995 when compared with those who did not. When analysed in a simple logistic regression, dental cleanings in 1995 were also significantly associated with a decreased probability of needing non-trauma related emergency services. However, this relationship did not hold in the controlled model, which was probably due to multicollinearity.

This study provides evidence of the value of periodic preventive dental examinations and services. Those who receive such services are less likely to use non-trauma related emergency dental services.