Assuntos
Agendamento de Consultas , Assistência Odontológica/organização & administração , Cárie Dentária/prevenção & controle , Saúde Bucal/educação , Adolescente , Fatores Etários , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos de Coortes , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Avaliação das Necessidades , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores Sexuais , Fatores de Tempo , Estados UnidosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether higher reimbursement for children's preventive dentistry correlates with greater utilization of preventive dental care. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of National Survey of Children's Health 2011/2012 was conducted, combined with state Medicaid reimbursement rates for preventive dentistry. Analyses included prevalence, unadjusted odds ratios, and multivariable logistic regression for receipt of preventive dental services. RESULTS: Of all surveyed American children 1-17 years, almost 20 percent had not received preventive dental care in prior year; this percentage is even higher in those with public insurance. Each $10 increase in state reimbursement was associated with a 17 percent decrease in odds of children not receiving preventive services. CONCLUSIONS: Higher state reimbursement for preventive services may increase children's receipt of preventive dental care.