Social support and dental visits

The authors conducted a study to examine the influence of social support on dental visits among an adult population.

Using 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, the authors analyzed information pertaining to adults 40 years and older (N = 2,598) (with the exclusion of edentulous people), who represent about 108 million people in the United States. They weighted logistic regression models for dental visits, while controlling for demographic characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, sex, education, insurance, income), socioenvironmental characteristics (marital status, emotional and financial support, number of close family members and friends, years lived in the neighborhood) and physical and mental health status.

The study findings show that the odds of having had a timely dental visit (that is, within the preceding year), a self-care-related dental visit (that is, a visit initiated by the patient for a checkup, examination or cleaning more than one year previously but less than three years previously) or both were decreased significantly by not having had any financial help if needed and by having fewer close family members and friends. The authors did not find any association between marital status, emotional support or years lived in the neighborhood and having had a timely or self-care-related dental visit.

Timely or self-care-related dental visits depend in part on financial support and the number of one's close friends and family members. Clinicians should engage appropriate members of the patient's social network to facilitate dental visits.