Oral Health, U.S. 2002 Annual Report
Section 7: DELIVERY OF DENTAL SERVICES
| 7.7 |
Usual source of dental care |
In the 1970s, 68.4% of persons aged 25–74 years reported having a dentist they usually go to for dental care. In 1997, 67.9% of children aged 2–17 years reported visiting a dentist in the past year (Woolfolk et al., 1999). In 1995, 65.9% of adults in California reported visiting a dentist in the preceding 12 months (Tomar et al., 1998).
In the 1994 National Health Interview Survey, it was shown that uninsured children (75.9%) were less likely to have a usual source of care compared to insured children (96.2%) (Newacheck et al., 1998). In the 1995 National Health Interview Survey, uninsured adolescents were five times as likely to lack a usual source of care, four times as likely to have unmet health needs, and twice as likely to not have physician contact during a year compared to insured adolescents (Newacheck et al., 1999).
Although no comprehensive national data on usual source of dental care have been compiled since 1971–1975 (NHANES I), it was evident 30 years ago that an insufficient percentage of persons had access to care. Data pertinent to assessing "usual source of dental care" are now being collected as part of NHANES IV.
SOURCE OF DATA
Analyses reported here are based on the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANESI) 1971–1975, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The percentage of persons reporting having a dentist they usually go to for dental care
- was relatively stable for adults until age 55 years, after which the percentage was lower for each of the successively older age groups (Figure 7.7.1).
- was greater for whites than blacks (Figure 7.7.2).
- was greater for females compared to males (Figure 7.7.2).
- increased with increasing levels of education (Figure 7.7.2).
- was greater for persons living at/above the federal poverty level than for those living below the federal poverty level (Figure 7.7.2).
- was greater for persons who had a dental visit in the past year than for those who did not.
Bullets reference data that can be found in Table 7.7.1.
REFERENCES
Newacheck PW, Stoddard JJ, Hughes DC, Pearl M. Health insurance and access to primary care for children.
N Engl J Med 1998;338(8):513–519.
Newacheck PW, Brindis CD, Cart CU, et al. Adolescent health insurance coverage: recent changes and access to care.
Pediatrics 1999;104(2 pt 1);195–202.
Tomar SL, Azevedo AB, Lawson R. Adult dental visits in California: successes and challenges. J Public Health Dent
1998;58(4):275–280.
Woolfolk MW, Lang WP, Borgnakke WS, Taylor GW, et al. Determining dental check-up frequency. J Am Dent Assoc
1999;130(5):715–723.
Figure 7.7.1. Percentage of adults with a usual source of dental care by age, 1971–1975
 [D]
Data source: The First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) 1971–1975, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Figure 7.7.2. Percentage of adults with a usual source of dental care by selected demographics, 1971–1975
 [D]
Data source: The First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) 1971–1975, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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