Pediatric Dentist Density and Preventive Care Utilization for Medicaid Children

Overview

Journal Pediatr Dent

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2015 Aug 29

PMID 26314606

Citations 11

Authors

James F Heidenreich

Amy S Kim

JoAnna M Scott

Donald L Chi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate county-level pediatric dentist density and dental care utilization for Medicaid-enrolled children.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of 604,885 zero- to 17-year-olds enrolled in the Washington State Medicaid Program for 11-12 months in 2012. The relationship between county-level pediatric dentist density, defined as the number of pediatric dentists per 10,000 Medicaid-enrolled children, and preventive dental care utilization was evaluated using linear regression models.

Results: In 2012, 179 pediatric dentists practiced in 16 of the 39 counties in Washington. County-level pediatric dentist density varied from zero to 5.98 pediatric dentists per 10,000 Medicaid-enrolled children. County-level preventive dental care utilization ranged from 32 percent to 81 percent, with 62 percent of Medicaid-enrolled children utilizing preventive dental services. County-level density was significantly associated with county-level dental care utilization (Slope equals 1.67, 95 percent confidence interval equals 0.02, 3.32, P<.05).

Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between pediatric dentist density and the proportion of Medicaid-enrolled children who utilize preventive dental care services. Policies aimed at improving pediatric oral health disparities should include strategies to increase the number of oral health care providers, including pediatric dentists, in geographic areas with large proportions of Medicaid-enrolled children.

Citing Articles

Cost-effectiveness of Dental Workforce Expansion Through the National Health Service Corps and Its Association With Oral Health Outcomes Among US Children.

Choi S, Shen Y, Wright D JAMA Health Forum. 2023; 4(3):e230128.

PMID: 36930167 PMC: 10024205. DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.0128.

Association between Community Social Capital and Access to Dental Check-Ups among Elementary School Children in Japan.

Kobayashi M, Matsuyama Y, Nawa N, Isumi A, Doi S, Fujiwara T Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(1).

PMID: 36612368 PMC: 9819719. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010047.

Effects of early preventive dental visits and its associations with dental caries experience: a cross-sectional study.

Qu X, Houser S, Tian M, Zhang Q, Pan J, Zhang W BMC Oral Health. 2022; 22(1):150.

PMID: 35488264 PMC: 9052678. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02190-6.

Association between local spatial accessibility of dental care services and dental care quality.

Chung P, Chan T BMC Oral Health. 2021; 21(1):582.

PMID: 34789214 PMC: 8600821. DOI: 10.1186/s12903-021-01943-z.

Oral health behaviours and dental caries in low-income children with special healthcare needs: A prospective observational study.

Lee J, Scott J, Chi D Int J Paediatr Dent. 2020; 30(6):749-757.

PMID: 32306501 PMC: 11682719. DOI: 10.1111/ipd.12656.

References

Chi D, Milgrom P . Preventive dental service utilization for Medicaid-enrolled children in New Hampshire: a comparison of care provided by pediatric dentists and general dentists. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2009; 20(2):458-72. PMC: 3564013. DOI: 10.1353/hpu.0.0139. View

Kaylor M, Polivka B, Chaudry R, Salsberry P, Wee A . Dental services utilization by women of childbearing age by socioeconomic status. J Community Health. 2009; 35(2):190-7. DOI: 10.1007/s10900-009-9214-0. View

Bazargan N, Chi D, Milgrom P . Exploring the potential for foreign-trained dentists to address workforce shortages and improve access to dental care for vulnerable populations in the United States: a case study from Washington State. BMC Health Serv Res. 2010; 10:336. PMC: 3017531. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-10-336. View

Lamster I, Eaves K . A model for dental practice in the 21st century. Am J Public Health. 2011; 101(10):1825-30. PMC: 3222372. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300234. View

Martin A, Vyavaharkar M, Veschusio C, Kirby H . Rural-urban differences in dental service utilization among an early childhood population enrolled in South Carolina Medicaid. Matern Child Health J. 2010; 16(1):203-11. DOI: 10.1007/s10995-010-0725-1. View

Chi D, Leroux B . County-level determinants of dental utilization for Medicaid-enrolled children with chronic conditions: how does place affect use?. Health Place. 2012; 18(6):1422-9. PMC: 3597237. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.07.007. View

Martin A, Hardin J, Veschusio C, Kirby H . Differences in dental service utilization by rural children with and without participation in Head Start. Pediatr Dent. 2012; 34(5):107-11. View

Friedman J, Mathu-Muju K . Dental therapists: improving access to oral health care for underserved children. Am J Public Health. 2014; 104(6):1005-9. PMC: 4062028. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301895. View

Mick S, Lee S, Wodchis W . Variations in geographical distribution of foreign and domestically trained physicians in the United States: 'safety nets' or 'surplus exacerbation'?. Soc Sci Med. 2000; 50(2):185-202. DOI: 10.1016/s0277-9536(99)00183-5. View

10.

Dasanayake A, Li Y, Philip S, Kirk K, Bronstein J, Childers N . Utilization of dental sealants by Alabama Medicaid children: barriers in meeting the year 2010 objectives. Pediatr Dent. 2001; 23(5):401-6. View

11.

Dubay L, Kenney G . Expanding public health insurance to parents: effects on children's coverage under Medicaid. Health Serv Res. 2003; 38(5):1283-301. PMC: 1360947. DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.00177. View

12.

Filstrup S, Briskie D, da Fonseca M, Lawrence L, Wandera A, Inglehart M . Early childhood caries and quality of life: child and parent perspectives. Pediatr Dent. 2003; 25(5):431-40. View

13.

Macek M, Heller K, Selwitz R, Manz M . Is 75 percent of dental caries really found in 25 percent of the population?. J Public Health Dent. 2004; 64(1):20-5. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2004.tb02721.x. View

14.

Groenewegen P, Postma J . The supply and utilization of dental services. Soc Sci Med. 1984; 19(4):451-9. DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(84)90203-x. View

15.

Hollister M, Weintraub J . The association of oral status with systemic health, quality of life, and economic productivity. J Dent Educ. 1993; 57(12):901-12. View

16.

Wang F, Luo W . Assessing spatial and nonspatial factors for healthcare access: towards an integrated approach to defining health professional shortage areas. Health Place. 2005; 11(2):131-46. DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2004.02.003. View

17.

Nainar S, Feigal R . Geographic distribution of pediatric dentists in private practice in the United States. Pediatr Dent. 2005; 26(6):526-9. View

18.

Kobayashi M, Chi D, Coldwell S, Domoto P, Milgrom P . The effectiveness and estimated costs of the access to baby and child dentistry program in Washington State. J Am Dent Assoc. 2005; 136(9):1257-63. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.2005.0341. View

19.

Rosenblatt R, Andrilla C, Curtin T, Hart L . Shortages of medical personnel at community health centers: implications for planned expansion. JAMA. 2006; 295(9):1042-9. DOI: 10.1001/jama.295.9.1042. View

20.

Wall T, Brown L . The urban and rural distribution of dentists, 2000. J Am Dent Assoc. 2007; 138(7):1003-11. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.2007.0298. View