Pediatric dental care use and parent- or caregiver-rated oral health among Alabama children enrolled in Medicaid

Does preventive dental care reduce nonpreventive dental visits and expenditures among Medicaid‐enrolled adults?

“…Although utilization may decline within an individual over time as oral health status improves, particularly when they may not have had dental coverage previously, it is unlikely that only 9% of the population was advised to have at least 1 PDV annually. This contrasts with other populations studied, particularly children in public insurance programs, wherein PDV utilization is much more frequent 41–43 . Other barriers to regular care beyond coverage may exist.…”

“…This contrasts with other populations studied, particularly children in public insurance programs, wherein PDV utilization is much more frequent. [41][42][43] Other barriers to regular care beyond coverage may exist. For example, lack of time to visit the dentist and inability to easily travel to see a dentist are consistent reasons reported by Medicaid-enrolled adults as to why they forgo visiting a dentist annually.…”