A decade in dental care utilization among adults and children (2001-2010).

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To decompose the change in pediatric and adult dental care utilization over the last decade.

Data

2001 through 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Study design

The Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition was used to explain the change in dental care utilization among adults and children. Changes in dental care utilization were attributed to changes in explained covariates and changes due to movements in estimated coefficients. Controlling for demographics, overall health status, and dental benefits variables, we estimated year-specific logistic regression models. Outputs from these models were used to compute the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition.

Principal findings

Dental care utilization decreased from 40.5 percent in 2001 to 37.0 percent in 2010 for adults and

SUBMITTER: Vujicic M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3976182 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature