Increased public reimbursement for prophylactic visits with dentists associated with increased receipt of preventive dental services in children

Abstract

To determine whether higher reimbursement for children's preventive dentistry correlates with greater utilization of preventive dental care. A cross-sectional analysis of National Survey of Children's Health 2011/2012 was conducted, combined with state Medicaid reimbursement rates for preventive dentistry. Analyses included prevalence, unadjusted odds ratios, and multivariable logistic regression for receipt of preventive dental services. Of all surveyed American children 1-17 years, almost 20 percent had not received preventive dental care in prior year; this percentage is even higher in those with public insurance. Each $10 increase in state reimbursement was associated with a 17 percent decrease in odds of children not receiving preventive services. Higher state reimbursement for preventive services may increase children's receipt of preventive dental care.