The demand for dental care: an assessment

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The demand for dental care is a critical factor in healthcare planning and resource allocation.
• Analysis of dental care demand in the United Kingdom (U.K.) is notably underdeveloped compared to other regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on the determinants of dental care demand.
• To assess the implications of this literature for the U.K. dental system.
• To identify gaps in current research and propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of empirical studies on dental care demand.
• Analysis of theoretical frameworks underpinning dental care utilization.
• Synthesis of findings from North American and Scandinavian research.

Main Results:

• Significant heterogeneity exists in empirical findings regarding factors influencing dental care demand.
• There is a lack of consensus on several crucial empirical aspects, such as the price elasticity of demand and the role of dental insurance.
• Existing research predominantly originates from North America and Scandinavia, limiting direct applicability to the U.K. context.

Conclusions:

• The U.K. dental system requires tailored analysis of dental care demand due to its unique characteristics.
• Further empirical research is essential to establish a consensus on key demand drivers.
• Future research should focus on U.K.-specific data and address identified knowledge gaps to inform policy and practice.