Access to dental care in the United States

The authors analyzed data from the 1994 National Access to Care Survey and estimated the extent of dental care wants in the U.S. population and in various population subgroups. The authors found that 8.5 percent of the population wanted, but did not readily obtain, dental care in 1994. The prevalence of unmet dental care wants varied by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and income and health insurance status. Findings suggest that financial barriers to access are significant in explaining the prevalence of wanted dental care.