Self-perceived oral health, normative need, and dental services utilization among dentate adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014
Folasayo Adunola DDS, MPH
Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorIsabel Garcia DDS, MPH
College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorTimothy Iafolla DMD, MPH
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorShahdokht Boroumand DMD, MPH
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMarushka L. Silveira BDS, MPH, PhD
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMargo Adesanya DDS, MPH
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Bruce A. Dye DDS, MPH
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Correspondence
Bruce A. Dye, DDS, MPH, Office of Science Policy and Analysis, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive Suite 5B55, Bethesda, MD 20892-2190. Tel.: 301-496-7765; e-mail: [email protected]. Folasayo Adunola is with the Health Resources and Services Administration. Isabel Garcia is with the College of Dentistry, University of Florida. Timothy Iafolla, Shahdokht Boroumand, Margo Adesanya, and Bruce A. Dye are with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Marushka L. Silveira is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Search for more papers by this authorFolasayo Adunola DDS, MPH
Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorIsabel Garcia DDS, MPH
College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorTimothy Iafolla DMD, MPH
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorShahdokht Boroumand DMD, MPH
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMarushka L. Silveira BDS, MPH, PhD
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMargo Adesanya DDS, MPH
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Bruce A. Dye DDS, MPH
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Correspondence
Bruce A. Dye, DDS, MPH, Office of Science Policy and Analysis, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive Suite 5B55, Bethesda, MD 20892-2190. Tel.: 301-496-7765; e-mail: [email protected]. Folasayo Adunola is with the Health Resources and Services Administration. Isabel Garcia is with the College of Dentistry, University of Florida. Timothy Iafolla, Shahdokht Boroumand, Margo Adesanya, and Bruce A. Dye are with the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Marushka L. Silveira is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Objective
This study investigated the role of self-perceived oral health and normative need on dental services utilization by US adults aged ≥30 years from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Methods
Data on 5,806 dentate adult NHANES participants were analyzed. Key independent variables were self-perceived oral health and normative need assessed by a dentist. The dependent variable was dental visit within the past 12 months. Select sociodemographic variables were adjusted for in logistic regression models using SAS survey procedures.
Results
Overall, 33.8 percent of adults did not have a dental visit in the past 12 months. About 26.9 percent reported they were unsatisfied with their oral health and 53.4 percent needed to seek care. Individuals unsatisfied with their oral health were less likely to have a dental visit in the past 12 months compared to those who were satisfied with their oral health (57 versus 25 percent). Overall, participants who were unsatisfied with their oral health received a recommendation to seek care. These participants had more normative needs and were less likely to have a dental visit in the past 12 months; however, this relationship varied by race/ethnicity. For Asian-Americans, there was no association between those unsatisfied with their oral health and dental visits. Also, there was no association across all race/ethnicities between number of teeth present and dental visits.
Conclusion
Both self-perceived oral health and normative need are associated with dental utilization. Results will contribute to health policy discussions and program development that aim to improve oral health status in the United States.
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