scholarly journals Associations of Medical Visits with Dentist Visits: A Register-Linkage Study of a Working-Age Population in Finland

Author(s):  
Mikko Nurminen ◽  
Jenni Blomgren

Studies have usually addressed the utilization of either medical or dental services, and less is known about how medical and dentist visits are associated. As oral health is linked to systemic health, knowledge on care coordination between dental and medical services is important to gain understanding of the overall functioning of health care. Register data on 25–64-year-old residents of the city of Oulu, Finland, were used for the years 2017–2018 (N = 91,060). Logit models were estimated to analyze the probability of dentist visits, according to the number of medical visits in total and by three separate health care sectors. The majority, 61%, had visited both a medical professional and a dentist. All sectors combined, as few as one to two visits increased the odds of dentist visits (OR: 1.43, CI: 1.33, 1.53). When separated by medical professionals’ health care sectors, for one to two visits, the strongest association was found with public (OR: 1.17, CI: 1.12, 1.22) and private sector (OR: 1.35, CI: 1.30, 1.41). For occupational health service visits, the odds increased only after six or more visits. The results support the idea of integrated medical and dental care. However, the result may also arise from individual health behavior where health-conscious persons seek both medical and dental care independently.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deema A. Sahab ◽  
Mohammed S. Bamashmous ◽  
Amitha Ranauta ◽  
Vanessa Muirhead

Abstract Background This study used the Anderson Behavioral Model to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in dental services utilization among adults in Saudi Arabia, along with other predictors of utilization, to inform future planning of dental care services. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we conducted secondary analysis using national data from the 2019 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia World Health Survey (KSAWHS). The survey consisted of two interviewer-administered questionnaires, one for the household and one individual interview. The questionnaires included questions covering predisposing factors (age, gender, marital status, nationality, education, employment), enabling factors (income, household wealth, area-based socioeconomic class, health insurance, eligibility for free governmental health care, transportation and region of residence) and self-reported need for dental treatment. The main outcome was dental utilization. The independent variables were the predisposing, enabling and need factors. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses identified significant predictors of dental utilization, applying survey weights to adjust for the complex survey design. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and p values were reported in the final model. Results The final dataset included 8,535 adults (response rate = 95.4%). Twenty percent of adults visited the dentist at least once in the past year (95%CI: 18% -21%). The socioeconomic factors associated with the higher likelihood of dental service utilization in the final fully adjusted model were high household income (OR = 1.43, p = 0.043), second and middle household wealth status (OR = 1.51, p = 0.003 and OR = 1.57, p = 0.006) and access to free governmental health care (OR = 2.05, p = 0.004). In addition to self-reported oral problems (OR= 52.09, p < 0.001). Conclusion Socioeconomic inequalities in the utilization of dental services exist in Saudi Arabia. The main driver of dental services utilization in adults was the need for treatment suggesting predominantly symptomatic attendance. Increasing awareness about the importance of preventive dental visits rather than symptomatic attendance could be an important policy implication to improve oral health and optimize dental care expenditure. Further research should explore the drivers for adults to seek preventive care in the absence of any recognized dental problems.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Gaurav Gupta ◽  
Manu Narayan ◽  
Navin A Ingle ◽  
Sabyasachi Saha ◽  
Sahana Shivkumar

ABSTRACT Oral health care for children and adults with disabilities is a health care area that has received scant attention. It is seen that most persons with a significant disability cannot find a professional resource to provide appropriate and necessary dental care. Lack of access to dental services for this growing segment of our population is reaching critical levels and is a national dilemma.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002203452110074
Author(s):  
I.B. Lamster ◽  
K.P. Malloy ◽  
P.M. DiMura ◽  
B. Cheng ◽  
V.L. Wagner ◽  
...  

Previous reports suggest that periodontal treatment is associated with improved health care outcomes and reduced costs. Using data from the New York State Medicaid program, rates of emergency department (ED) use and inpatient admissions (IPs), as well as costs for ED, IPs, pharmacy, and total health care, were studied to determine the association of preventive dental care to health care outcomes. Utilization of dental services in the first 2 y (July 2012–June 2014) was compared to health care outcomes in the final year (July 2014–June 2015). Costs and utilization for members who did not receive dental services (No Dental) were compared to those who received any dental care (Any Dental), any preventive dental care (PDC), PDC without an extraction and/or endodontic treatment (PDC without Ext/Endo), PDC with an Ext/Endo (PDC with Ext/Endo), or Ext/Endo without PDC (Ext/Endo without PDC). Propensity scores were used to adjust for potential confounders. After adjustment, ED rate ratios were significantly lower for PDC and PDC without Ext/Endo but higher for the Any Dental and Ext/Endo without PDC. IP ratios were lower for all treatment groups except Ext/Endo without PDC. ED costs differed little compared to the No Dental group except for Ext/Endo without PDC. For IPs, costs per member were significantly lower for all groups (−$262.91 [95% confidence interval (CI), −325.40 to −200.42] to −$379.82 [95% CI, −451.27 to −308.37]) except for Ext/Endo without PDC. For total health care costs, Ext/Endo without PDC had a significantly greater total health care cost ($530.50 [95% CI, 156.99–904.01]). Each additional PDC visit was associated with a 3% reduction in the relative risk for ED and 9% reduction for IPs. Costs also decreased for total health care (−$235.64 [95% CI, −299.95 to −171.33]) and IP (−$181.39 [95% CI, −208.73 to −154.05]). In conclusion, an association between PDC and improved health care outcomes was observed, with the opposite association for Ext/Endo without PDC.


Author(s):  
D.S TISHKOV ◽  

Compulsory health insurance is an integral part of health care. Dental care is provided in two forms: private dental services and public dental services based on budget clinics. The purpose of this study is to study dental health in Russia by comparing the policy of compulsory medical insurance and private services in dental practice. During the study, dental health indicators were studied at three levels: indicators for monitoring the oral health of children and adolescents. In the second part, indicators for monitoring oral health in the General population were studied. In the third part, indicators for monitoring the quality of life of the oral cavity were studied. Statistical data processing included implementation of correlation analysis of the obtained data. The results show that social health insurance provides people with equal opportunities for dental services, and health care reforms have improved oral health. Thus, the data obtained indicate the need to Finance the health care system in view of improving the quality of dental care for children and adults, as well as through the introduction of primary and secondary prevention programs.


Author(s):  
Blánaid Daly ◽  
Paul Batchelor ◽  
Elizabeth Treasure ◽  
Richard Watt

This chapter will briefly describe how oral health care may be managed and organized and how health workers may be remunerated. This will be followed by a short outline of the ways in which oral health care is provided in the UK. A separate overview of dental care professionals (DCPs) is presented in this chapter. The reform of the NHS is ongoing, so this chapter discusses principles rather than detail. Since the devolution of health care to governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, variations in provision are occurring across the UK and some of these differences are highlighted. If oral health care is to be provided it has to be funded. The money has to be derived from the public and this can be either from individuals or from taxation. Within the UK there are a variety of ways in which oral health care is funded. Figure 19.1 shows the possible flows of money. The model that exists in the UK is in the main centred on routes 1 and 3, based on taxation, either direct or through national insurance contributions, and its subsequent allocation to various public-funded services, including dentistry. In Germany, the arrangement is slightly different in that third-party insurance groups are involved and a proportion of an individual’s annual salary is allocated to health care. A third model operates in the USA under the guise of managed care. Individuals buy into a care plan that is organized by a health care company, which subsequently contracts with dentists to provide a level of care. In route 2, the public pays the dentist directly for his or her services; this is a private arrangement. A third party may intervene to control pricing. For example, Dutch and Swedish adult dental care is now mostly in the private sector, but each year the profession negotiates the scale of fees with their government. The subsequent distribution process for paying oral care workers is illustrated in Figure 19.2. There are again three mechanisms: . . . 1 A purely private arrangement. . . . . . . 2 The state pays the total cost. . . .


2021 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-101
Author(s):  
I. Mochalov ◽  
◽  
R. Stupnytsky ◽  
I. Shupyatsky ◽  
I. Molozhanov ◽  
...  

Abstract. In modern conditions dental treatment is one of the most common types of medical care in Ukraine, only 7.00 % of the young population are dentally healthy. During 2015–2019 the general practice of using 3.91 % of the consolidated state budget for health care for dental care was determined, mainly such funds were used for the maintenance of dental health care establishments. Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine «Some issues of implementation of the program of state guarantees of medical care in 2020» from February 5, 2020 for № 65 provides the calculation of the tariff for dental services in the amount of UAH 9.19 per unit. Preliminary calculations indicate that comparing to 2019 during 2020 the state financial support of dental care will be reduced by 3444.20 million UAH (68.60 %). There are reasonable doubts about the rationality of the design of the Medical Guarantee Program in terms of treatment of dental diseases which carries the risk of further increase in dental morbidity and reduced availability of dental care for population. Key words: dentistry, treatment, financing, reform, accessibility, discussion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S535-S536
Author(s):  
Christina M Baello ◽  
Divya Ahuja ◽  
Norlica Finkley ◽  
Rajee Rao

Abstract Background An estimated 58- 64 % of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) do not receive regular dental care and this gap may be attributed to barriers related to cost, access to dental care, logistical issues, indifference to or fear of dental care.1,2 The Immunology Center at Prisma- University of South Carolina, School of Medicine is a Ryan White funded Part B Program that provides care to &gt; 2400 PLWHA. Based on the perceived barriers, an enhanced oral health care program was implemented in 2018, wherein patients in need of dental care and meeting inclusion criteria are referred to contracted local general dentistry and specialty practices. Enhancements Dedicated Dental Services Coordinator (DSC) Facilitated transport to and from the dental clinic Annual budget of $2700 per patient Access to dental specialties (oral and maxillofacial surgery) Restorative services (crowns, dentures and root canals) Program Goals The ultimate goal of the oral health care program is to provide biannual dental prophylaxis and expanded restorative services to PLWHA. Inclusion criteria for referrals 1 Virological suppression over 6 months. (HIV Viral Load &lt; 200 c/mL) 2 Adherence with HIV clinic appointments. Midlands Region, South Carolina Methods The DSC completes the following: monitoring of referrals, patient compliance to program inclusion criteria, linkage to dental care, payments for dental services, and coordination with case management. Results Between 2018 and 2019, 535 patients were referred to the oral health care program. Almost 75% 399 completed at least one dental clinic visit. The average number of visits for patients from their enrollment date (2018-2019 to December 2019 was 1.56, with an average of 8.08 services, and 1.13 prophylaxis visits with their oral health care provider. Patients were predominantly African American and male but were spread across a wide age spectrum and 8 counties. Nearly 94% of patients remained virologically suppressed during their oral health care treatment. Table 1: 2018-2019 Program Summary of Oral Health Care Table 2 & Figure 1: Oral Health Care Patients by Age Group, Figure 2: Oral Health Care Patient by Gender Table 3 & Figure 3: Oral Health Care Patients by Race and Ethnicity, Table 4 & Figure 4: Oral Health Care Patient by County Conclusion PLWHA have high rates of unmet oral health care needs and low utilization of oral health services. Adequate resources and coordination of care with local dentists can overcome traditional barriers and improve access to dental care. Abstract References Disclosures: All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
Sabha Alshatrat ◽  
Isra AL Bakri ◽  
Wael AL Omari ◽  
Abedelmalek Tabnjh

Aim: The study aimed to assess oral health knowledge, dental behaviors, and use of dental services in individuals with vision impairment in Jordan and identify barriers that affect their access to dental care in comparison with individuals without vision impairment. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was carried out among 399 parents/caregivers of individuals with vision impairment and individuals without vision impairment, which involved the completion of a self-designed questionnaire. A closed-ended, validated self-designed questionnaire was distributed. The questionnaire included questions addressing participants’ oral health knowledge, oral health behaviour, dental service use and barriers to accessing dental care. Data were analyzed using SPSS® software Version 22 with a 0.05 level of significance. A Chi-square test and contingency-table analysis were performed on the data. Results: Individuals with vision impairment in Jordan were significantly less knowledgeable about different oral health aspects than sighted counterparts. In addition, individuals with vision impairment used toothbrush, dental floss, and mouth rinse less frequently. They also visited dentists less regularly and mostly when only feeling pain. Limited access to dental services was observed among individuals with vision impairment compared to sighted individuals. Barriers, including embarrassment (22%), lack of knowledge of how to treat people with disabilities among dentists (12.5%), and inadequate facilities (13.7%), were significantly (P<0.05) more likely to be reported by visually impaired participants than the controls. Conclusion: Visually impaired individuals and their families should be given appropriate education about oral health care by oral health professionals to reduce the risk of having dental problems and oral disease and enhance their quality of life. Furthermore, recognizing the challenges in accessing dental care for this population could help oral health professionals to minimize these difficulties.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estêvão Azevedo Melo ◽  
Livia Fernandes Probst ◽  
Luciane Miranda Guerra ◽  
Elaine Pereira Silva Tagliaferro ◽  
Alessandro Diogo De-Carli ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Aiming to reverse the current impact of oral diseases, which are among the most prevalent diseases worldwide, it is necessary that public dental services act in an integrated manner within the Health System, particularly with the primary care services. However, even inside availability scenarios in health care, the use of dental services is determined by complex phenomena related to the individual, the environment and practices in which care is offered. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictors of the demand for dental care in Primary Health Care Units (PHC) with Oral Health Teams (OHTs). Methods The present is a cross-sectional analytical study that used data from the external assessment of the third cycle of the National Program for Improving Access and Quality in Primary Care (PMAQ-AB, Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica), carried out between 2017 and 2018, in Brazil. The final sample consisted of 85,231 patients and 22,475 Oral Health teams (OHTs). The outcome variable was the fact that the user requested a dental appointment at the Health Unit. A multilevel analysis was carried out to verify the association between individual variables (related to users) and contextual variables (related to the OHTs) in relation to the outcome. Results In the final model, of the variables at the individual level, the patient's age over 43 years (OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.96–2.10) was the one that had the greatest effect on the outcome. In turn, among the contextual variables related to the teams, the ones with the greatest effect on the outcome were 'oral health teams that assisted no more than a single family health team' (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.23–1.36) or 'those in which the dental form constitutes the user's medical record' (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15–1.26) were predictors of the demand for a dental appointment in Primary Health Care. Conclusion It can be concluded that individual and contextual issues interfere in the demand for dental care. Oral health planning must consider an active search for patients with profiles that do not favor the spontaneous demand for oral health care, such as being older, male gender and non-white ethnicity. It is also concluded that the oral health teams that worked in line with the Brasil Sorridente guidelines are the teams most often sought after by the users.


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