Effect of medical, drug abuse, and mental health care on receipt of dental care by drug users

Abstract

We examined the association of patterns of health care in 1996 with subsequent dental care in 1997 or 1998 for 47,260 drug users enrolled in New York State Medicaid. From Medicaid files, we identified psychiatric care, prescribed antidepressants, a regular source of medical care, regular drug treatment (6+ contiguous months), and clinical conditions. Of this cohort, 58% received dental care. The adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of dental care were increased for drug users receiving psychiatric care and antidepressants (1.66 [1.55, 1.77]), psychiatric care alone (1.48 [1.41, 1.56]), or only antidepressants (1.18 [1.10, 1.27]), vs. neither. AORs of dental care were also higher for those with a regular source of medical care alone (1.27 [1.23, 1.35]) or with regular drug treatment (1.33 [CI 1.25, 1.41]) vs. neither. Mental health care and, to a lesser extent, a regular source of medical care and regular drug treatment may promote dental care in this vulnerable population.