Effectiveness of preventive dental treatments by physicians for young Medicaid enrollees.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate the effectiveness of a medical office-based preventive dental program (Into the Mouths of Babes [IMB]), which included fluoride varnish application, in reducing treatments related to dental caries.

Methods

We used longitudinal claims and enrollment data for all children aged 72 months or younger enrolled in North Carolina Medicaid from 2000 through 2006. Regression analyses compared subgroups of children who received up to 6 IMB visits at ages 6 to 35 months with children who received no IMB visits. Analyses were adjusted for child and area characteristics.

Results

Children enrolled in North Carolina Medicaid with ≥ 4 IMB visits experienced, on average, a 17% reduction in dental-caries-related treatments up to 6 years of age compared with childre

SUBMITTER: Pahel BT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3065140 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature