Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
8 p.
Publication Date
11-2013
Publisher
Elsevier
Source Publication
Journal of Adolescent Health
Source ISSN
1054-139X
Abstract
Purpose
To examine longitudinal trends and associated factors in dental service utilization by adolescents progressing to early adulthood in the United States.
Methods
The data source was the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health from Waves I (1994–1995), II (1996), III (2001–2002), and IV (2007–2008). This was a retrospective, observational study of adolescents' transition to early adulthood. We obtained descriptive statistics and performed logistic regression analyses to identify the effects of baseline and concurrent covariates on dental service utilization from adolescence to early adulthood over time.
Results
Dental service utilization within the prior 12 months peaked at age 16 (72%), gradually decreased until age 21 (57%), and remained flat thereafter. Whites and Asians had a 10–20 percentage points higher proportion of dental service utilization at most ages compared with Blacks and Hispanics. Dental service utilization at later follow-up visits was strongly associated with baseline utilization, with odds ratio = 10.7, 2.4, and 1.5 at the 1-, 7-, and 13-year follow-ups, respectively. These effects decreased when they were adjusted for current income, insurance, and education. Compared with Whites, Blacks were consistently less likely to report a dental examination.
Conclusions
Dental service utilization was highest in adolescence. Gender, education, health insurance, and income in young adulthood were significant predictors in reporting a dental examination. Blacks had lower odds of reporting a dental examination, either as adolescents or as young adults.
Recommended Citation
Okunseri, Christopher; Okunseri, Elaye; Garcia, Raul I.; Visotcky, Alexis D.; and Szabo, Aniko, "Predictors of Dental Care Use: Findings From the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health" (2013). School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications. 72.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/dentistry_fac/72
Comments
Accepted version. Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 53, No. 5 (November 2013): 663-670. DOI. © 2013 Elsevier. Used with permission.
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Adolescent Health. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Adolescent Health, VOL 53, ISSUE 5, November 2013, DOI.