September 2013

Volume 30, Issue 3

Oral health care services utilisation in the adult US population: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2006

Authors: B. Christian A. Chattopadhyay A. Kingman S. Boroumand A. Adams I. Garcia
doi: 10.1922/CDH_3096Christian07

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the proportion of dental visits and to explore determinants of oral health care service (OHCS) utilisation among US civilian non-institutionalised adults. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were used to analyse adults’ self-reported dental visits across potential risk factors (n=22,721). MEPS uses a complex sample design including stratification, clustering, multiple stages of selection, and disproportionate sampling. These survey design complexities were taken into account for analysis in this study. The analysis was performed in SAS 9.2 and used chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Results: MEPS (2006) represented approximately 222 million non-institutionalised US adults. 42% (weighted) of this population reported a dental visit in the past 12 months. Dental visit numbers were observed to increase with age, with the 55-64-year-olds approximately 44% more likely than the 18-24-year olds to have visited the dentist in the past year. Hispanics were 48% less likely to report a dental visit compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. Respondents with public- or no- dental insurance were less likely to report a dental visit than persons with private dental coverage. Conclusions: Under half the US adult civilian non-institutionalised population reported a dental visit during 2006. To help address utilisation disparities, creative initiatives and systemic approaches aimed at groups currently utilising OHCS less often could be an important step towards oral health equity. Key words: health services research, utilization, dental health services, epidemiologic factors, healthcare disparities.

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Caries prevalence in 12-year-old children from Germany: Results of the 2009 national survey 138-142 Download
Longitudinal register study of attendance frequencies in public and private dental services in Finland 143-148 Download
The geographic distribution of patients seeking emergency dental care at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne, Australia 149-154 Download
Using GIS to analyse dental practice distribution in Indiana, USA 155-160 Download
Oral health care services utilisation in the adult US population: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2006 161-167 Download
Dental infections increase the likelihood of hospital admissions among adult patients with sickle cell disease 168-172 Download
Preschool teachers as agents of oral health promotion: an intervention study in Sri Lanka 173-177 Download
Oral health literacy and information sources among adults in Tehran, Iran 178-182 Download
Child oral health-related quality of life (COHQoL), enamel defects of the first permanent molars and caries experience among children in Western Australia 183-188 Download
Oral health-related quality of life in non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate patients: a systematic review 189-195 Download

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