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Utilization of dental services: 1986 patterns and trends
R A Hayward1, H K Meetz, M F Shapiro
1Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0376.
Journal of Public Health Dentistry
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Dental visits increased over a decade, with fewer financial barriers reported. However, disparities in dental care utilization persist for the poor, ethnic minorities, and less educated individuals.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dental Care Access
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Understanding trends in dental care utilization is crucial for public health.
- Previous data indicated significant financial barriers to dental care access.
- Socioeconomic and demographic factors influence healthcare-seeking behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze changes and trends in dental care utilization in the United States.
- To identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with dental visit frequency.
- To assess the prevalence of financial barriers to dental care.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1986 Access to Health Care Survey.
- Conducted a nationwide telephone survey with 9,352 respondents aged five and older.
- Analyzed dental visit frequency, associated risk factors, and reported financial barriers.
Main Results:
- Sixty-three percent of respondents had a dental visit in the past year.
- Elderly status, lower socioeconomic status, and being Black were independent risk factors for fewer dental visits.
- Reported financial barriers decreased from 37% in 1976 to 12% in 1986 among those without dental visits.
Conclusions:
- A trend towards increased dental visits and decreased financial barriers was observed over the decade.
- Significant disparities in dental care utilization persist among the poor, ethnic minorities, and less educated populations.
- Higher rates of other preventive health procedures were associated with recent dental check-ups.