Use of dental services by 26-year-old New Zealanders

The use of dental services and its oral-health associations were investigated in a birth cohort of 26-year-olds in order to examine the oral health and health-care effects of the change in entitlement to State assistance for dental care which occurs when the eighteenth birthday is reached. Fewer than half were routine users, and this proportion was greater among females. More of those who were episodic users at age 26 rated their oral health poorly, and more than one in six had had a tooth extracted since age 18 because of caries. Those who used dental services only when they had a problem not only had greater caries experience by the age of 26, but also their caries increment over the previous 8 years was also greater. Visiting the dentist for routine check-ups was associated with better long-term oral-health consequences than only going when there was a problem.