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Accepted manuscriptFree to read and download, Open Access
Accepted manuscript
Relationship between community-level variables and number of general dentists
2018
DOI: 10.17077/pp.005121
Abstract
Background. This study uses observational data (2014) to evaluate the association between the number of general dentists and several community characteristics.
Methods. Researchers collected community level characteristics from secondary sources for all 947 Iowa incorporated communities (N = 947) to study their relationships with mean number of general dentists per 1000 population per square mile (population density), the dependent variable. Researchers used zero-inflated negative binomial models to examine the association between the dependent and predictor variables.
Results. Only 23% of communities had a dentist. Urban, young, well educated, fluoridated communities with at least one elementary school had the highest estimated mean concentration of dentists. Isolated communities with older, less educated adults and lacking fluoridation and an elementary school had the fewest dentists.
Conclusions. Although population is an important determinant for where a dentist practices, other variables such as urbanization, demographics, fluoridation status, and presence of at least one elementary school are also predictors of the number of dentists in a community.
Practical Implications. These findings provide dental students and young practitioners useful information by highlighting community characteristics that are associated with office locations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Relationship between community-level variables and number of general dentists
- Creators
- Raymond A Kuthy - University of Iowa, Center for Social Science InnovationSusan C McKernan - University of Iowa, Preventive and Community DentistryMark Pooley - University of Iowa, Center for Social Science InnovationM Bridget Zimmerman - University of Iowa, Biostatistics
- Resource Type
- Accepted manuscript
- DOI
- 10.17077/pp.005121
- Number of pages
- 19 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2018 American Dental Association. Posted by permission.
- Grant note
- This study was funded by state workforce development grant T12HP14992 from the Health Resources and Service Administration.
- Language
- English
- Date copyrighted
- 2018
- Date posted
- 01/16/2020
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry; Oral Health Policy Research; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9983755499402771
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