Journal article
Pediatric Dentist Density and Preventive Care Utilization for Medicaid Children
Pediatric dentistry, Vol.37(4), pp.371-375
07/15/2015
PMCID: PMC4556135
PMID: 26314606
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.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Pediatric Dentist Density and Preventive Care Utilization for Medicaid Children
- Creators
- James Heidenreich - Private practice, Phoenix, Ariz., USA. jfheiden@uw.eduAmy Kim - University of WashingtonJoAnna Scott - University of WashingtonDonald Chi - University of Washington
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Pediatric dentistry, Vol.37(4), pp.371-375
- PMID
- 26314606
- PMCID
- PMC4556135
- NLM abbreviation
- Pediatr Dent
- ISSN
- 0164-1263
- eISSN
- 1942-5473
- Publisher
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/15/2015
- Academic Unit
- Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984283860102771
Metrics
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