TY - JOUR
T1 - Disparities in Dental Service Use among Adult Populations in the United States
AU - Wu, Y. Y.
AU - Zhang, W.
AU - Wu, B.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: B.W. is supported by the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health under award U01DE027512 and the National Institute on Aging under award 1R56AG067619. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Publisher Copyright:
© International & American Associations for Dental Research 2021.
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Objectives: This article aims to examine the disparities in dental service utilization among 3 age groups: younger adults (20–49 y), middle-aged adults (50–64 y), and older adults (65+ y), among Whites, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians, American Indians or Alaska Natives (AIAN), and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI). Methods: Weighted logistic regression models were conducted to analyze 9 waves of cross-sectional survey data (2002–2018) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We estimated age group- and race/ethnic–specific prevalences of dental service utilization adjusting sociodemographics and self-rated health for each wave and compared with crude analysis. Next, we performed linear regression analysis of the trend of adjusted prevalences over time and the average level by race/ethnicity and age groups. Results: Racial/ethnic disparities increased with age, even though the adjusted prevalences of dental service utilization were less apparent than the crude analysis. The all-wave average prevalence was 71%. Black older adults had the lowest level of dental service utilization (65%) as compared with the 2 highest groups: White older adults (79%) and Asian older adults (76%). The general younger adult populations had low prevalences, with the lowest among Asian younger adults (65%). AIAN and NHOPI individuals from all age groups tended to have average or below average prevalences. In addition, a decreasing trend of dental service utilization was observed among White individuals of all age groups (0.2%–0.3% lower per year, P < 0.01) and AIAN younger adults (0.5% lower per year, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Health policy, federal funding, and community-based programs should address the needs of dental service utilization for racial/ethnic minorities including Blacks, AIANs, and NHOPIs. Knowledge Transfer Statement: Our study offers insights into our understanding of disparities in dental service utilization among minority racial/ethnic groups. As health policy, federal funding, and community-based programs seek to improve oral health, there is a need to address access to and utilization of dental service for Blacks, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders.
AB - Objectives: This article aims to examine the disparities in dental service utilization among 3 age groups: younger adults (20–49 y), middle-aged adults (50–64 y), and older adults (65+ y), among Whites, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians, American Indians or Alaska Natives (AIAN), and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI). Methods: Weighted logistic regression models were conducted to analyze 9 waves of cross-sectional survey data (2002–2018) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We estimated age group- and race/ethnic–specific prevalences of dental service utilization adjusting sociodemographics and self-rated health for each wave and compared with crude analysis. Next, we performed linear regression analysis of the trend of adjusted prevalences over time and the average level by race/ethnicity and age groups. Results: Racial/ethnic disparities increased with age, even though the adjusted prevalences of dental service utilization were less apparent than the crude analysis. The all-wave average prevalence was 71%. Black older adults had the lowest level of dental service utilization (65%) as compared with the 2 highest groups: White older adults (79%) and Asian older adults (76%). The general younger adult populations had low prevalences, with the lowest among Asian younger adults (65%). AIAN and NHOPI individuals from all age groups tended to have average or below average prevalences. In addition, a decreasing trend of dental service utilization was observed among White individuals of all age groups (0.2%–0.3% lower per year, P < 0.01) and AIAN younger adults (0.5% lower per year, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Health policy, federal funding, and community-based programs should address the needs of dental service utilization for racial/ethnic minorities including Blacks, AIANs, and NHOPIs. Knowledge Transfer Statement: Our study offers insights into our understanding of disparities in dental service utilization among minority racial/ethnic groups. As health policy, federal funding, and community-based programs seek to improve oral health, there is a need to address access to and utilization of dental service for Blacks, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders.
KW - Medicaid
KW - cross-sectional studies
KW - health surveys
KW - minority groups
KW - oral health
KW - social class
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Humans
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Dental Care
KW - Hispanic or Latino
KW - United States/epidemiology
KW - Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
KW - Aged
KW - Racial Groups
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U2 - 10.1177/23800844211012660
DO - 10.1177/23800844211012660
M3 - Article
C2 - 33938303
AN - SCOPUS:85105702512
SN - 2380-0844
VL - 7
SP - 182
EP - 188
JO - JDR Clinical and Translational Research
JF - JDR Clinical and Translational Research
IS - 2
ER -