Oral Health, U.S. 2002 Annual Report
Section 7: DELIVERY OF DENTAL SERVICES
| 7.9 |
Proportion of the population that could not obtain dental care due to cost |
Data from the 1994 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation National Access to Care Survey indicated that 8.5% of the U.S. population wanted, but did not readily obtain, dental care in 1994 (Mueller et al., 1998). The prevalence of unmet dental needs was greater among African Americans, people in fair or poor health, poor people, and people who were uninsured.
In 1971–1975, 34.1% of the adult U.S. population who had a dental problem did not visit a dentist within the past 12 months due to cost (data from NHANES I). In 1997, 24.3% of the adult U.S. population did not visit a dentist within the past year due to cost (data from 1997 BRFSS).
SOURCES OF DATA
Analyses reported here are based on data from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I), 1971–1975, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The percentage of persons who did not visit a dentist within the past year due to cost
- was greater among younger adults (Figure 7.9.1).
- was greater among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks (1997 BRFSS).
- was greater among females compared to males (Figure 7.9.2).
- was lower among those with higher incomes (Figure 7.9.3).
Bullets reference data that can be found in Table 7.9.1.
REFERENCE
Mueller CD, Schur CL, Paramore, LC. Access to dental care in the United States: estimates from a 1994 survey.
J Am Dent Assoc 1998;129:429–437.
Figure 7.9.1. Percentage of adults who did not visit a dentist within the past 12 months due to cost by age
 [D]
Data source: 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Figure 7.9.2. Percentage of adults who did not visit a dentist within the past 12 months due to cost by gender
 [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 and 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Figure 7.9.3. Percentage of adults who did not visit a dentist within the past 12 months due to cost by income
 [D]
Data source: 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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