Equality in satisfaction, perceived need, and utilization of dental care in a 50-year old Swedish population

Satisfaction with dental care, perceived need for dental care, and dental care utilization were analyzed as to equality in geographical, socio-economic, and gender distributions. The study base was a cross-sectional mail questionnaire sent in 1992 to all 50-year old persons (totally 8890) in Orebro and Ostergötland counties in Sweden. Measures of the variables were all based on self-assessments. The response rate was 71.3%. The results showed no large inequalities as to satisfaction, except the aspect travel time for rural residents. They also had higher perceived need for dental care. For utilization of dental care, workers were relatively fewer among "high" consumers. Controlling for socio-economic group, there were twice as many men than women among "low" consumers. In conclusion, there was relative equality in the dental care delivery in this 50-year old Swedish population, with some remaining social differences, primarily socio-economically contingent.