Use of dental services in a rural area: influencing factors

Objectives: As a part of the development of a general practice residency in a rural area, a study of what affects the use of dental services was conducted. Methods: Patients visiting the White House Clinic in McKee, Kentucky completed a 32-item questionnaire regarding their attitudes toward oral health and dental care. Results: The respondents were 76.2% female and had a mean age of 34.7. Of the 105 respondents, 63% were at the clinic to visit a dentist, 5% a dental hygienist, 23% a physician, and 9% other health practitioners. Eight percent reported going to the dentist more than every 6 months, 14% every 6 months, 31% once per year, 12% every 2-3 years, 30% only when needed, and 5% never. Frequency of use of dental services correlated with self rating of dental health (r=.453,p=.000), the last dental visit being routine versus an emergency (r=. 394,p=.000), having dental insurance (r=.303, p<.001), rating dental care as important (r=.369,p=.000), age (r=-.217,p<.014) and dental fear (r=-.165,p<.047). These relationships replicated those found in an earlier study of a different rural Kentucky county (Raybould et al, J.Dent.Res.,79:551,#3264,2000). These 6 variables used as predictors of use of dental services in a regression analysis yielded a multiple R of .651(p=.000). Conclusions: All factors related to dental services, with the exception of age, are amenable to change and therefore should be taken into consideration when attempting to increase the use of dental services.