DHED 316: Utilization of Dental Services

Define a need? **

professionally defined type/amount of care needed to make the pt in optimal health

Define a perceived need? **

the type/amount of care patients feel they need (TAKE OUT MY TEETH! I WANT DENTURES NOW)

Define a potential demand? **

the want or desire to receive dental care to address their actual needs

What is utilization? How is it reported? (2) **

the demand to actually seek services

it is reported by either the following:

• % of population visiting dentist within 1 year

• average number of visits per person per year

How do you convert need to potential demand to utilization?

• need + awareness = potential demand (desire to get care)

• when we have potential demand without barriers = we get utilization (desire to get care & ability to obtain care)

How many ppl in KY utilize dental care since 2022? What was the trend before?

60.3%; it is lower than 65.9% of the national trend.

it steadily increased but since the 2010s has decreased bc of the recession

What are special considerations of utilization (4)

• Dental Advertising - the media typically highlights whitening, Invisalign, etc.

• Economic Depression - dental care is the 1st thing ppl put on the back burner. They see dental care as optional compared to medical care. Once they get over the economic depression, they start going back to the dentist

• The complicated market makes ppl choose the cheapest insurance tx plan which may differ from the actual need

• Discretionary income - dental care competes w other bills

How does age affect utilization? **

very young & very old are lower utilizers (their perceived need is low)

middle-aged adults are high utilizers

+65 less likely to use cause they aint got teeth

How does gender affect utilization?

females > males; F saw dentist within past year and had more visits per year but nobody really knows why

How does race/ethnicity affect utilization?

whites > non-whites use dental services

How does income affect utilization?

increased utilization as income increases. higher incomes still seek care more often

What is the strongest predictor of utilization? **

EDUCATION

How does education affect utilization?

utilization increases as education increases

What has been the trend of dental utilization over the years?

**KNOW for exam

peaked in 2008, then the recession happened, causing the utilization rates to slowly decrease

What was the national and KY dental utilization rate in 2020?

**KNOW for exam

• National: 65.9%

• KY: 60.3%

Which geographic region has the highest & lowest rate of utilization?

Northeast

South

Which place of residence has the highest & lowest rate of utilization?

Suburbs

Rural

How would a regular source of care affect utilization?

if you have a dental home, you will utilize more dental care. when we have a regular source of care, we get more visits in the last year. younger > old report having a regular source of care

How does having insurance impact utilization?

Dental insurance helps more people go to the dentist. It has the biggest effect on people who already visit the dentist regularly. People who do not go often may get dental insurance to take care of their dental needs, but they usually do not keep going as often

T/F: Even with insurance coverage, low income groups remain low utilizers.

TRUE

• high utilizers maintain utilization throughout length of plan

Voluntary insurance plans result in (more/less) utilization than employer-paid plans.

MORE bc it is an investment

Dentate are 4x (more/less) likely to have annual dental visits.

MORE

PPl who are edentulous are (more/less) likely to go to the dentist. Why?

Less; they dont think it matters if they have no teeth

People who consider themselves to be in "excellent" or "very good" general health are (more/less) likely to utilize dental services than those who rate themselves as "fair" or "poor" health.

MORE

Parents that are high utilizers are (more/less) likely to influence their kids to be high utilizers.

more; socialization has a big impact. what they do influences what their kids will think

What is a major explanatory reason for utilization?

perceived need. may be pain, prevention

What are the 3 types of barriers to utilization? ***

1. Structural (handicap, wheelchair, type of dental chair)

2. Financial

3. Personal & Cultural

What is the #1 and #2 reasons why people have had no dental visit in the past year?

1. No dental problem -- 46.8%

2. was no teeth

• both perceived needs

Who is more likely to report "no dental problem" as being the reason they have not visited the dentist in the past year?

• Younger > Older; African Americans > Whites

Who is more likely to report "no teeth" as being the reason they have not visited the dentist in the past year?

• Older > Younger; Whites > African Americans

Who is more likely to report "cost of care" as being the reason they have not visited the dentist in the past year?

• 18-34 year olds > other age groups

T/F: People who NEED care are NOT the ones who utilize dental services.

TRUE

• minorities, low education, low income, rural, uninsured