Self-Report Dental Visits in the United States: 1999 – 2004
Thornton-Evans, G. O., Eke, P. I., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Oral Health, Atlanta, Georgia, Objective: To compare estimates of self-reported dental visits in the preceding 12 months, between 1999 and 2004, and by person-level characteristics. Methods: Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys for 1999 to 2004 was analyzed to estimate changes in the percentage of U.S. adults aged ³ 18 years who self-reported a dental visit within the preceding 12 months. In the BRFSS survey, all survey participants were asked “How long has it been since you last visited a dentist or a dental clinic for any reason?” All estimates were age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. adult population. The difference in estimates between 1999 and 2004 were considered statistically significant if their 95% confidence intervals (CI) did not overlap. Less than 0.01% of survey participants provided no information on the dental visit question. Results:
There was no statistically significant change in the percent of adults reporting a dental visit in the U.S. population from 1999 to 2004. However, the proportion of dental visit increased significantly within older (≥65 years), married and non-smoking adults during this period. There were no significant changes in dental visits by sex, income, education, and health care coverage.
Person-Level Characteristics Showing Significant Changes in Dental Visits: 1999-2004
| Characteristic | 1999 Proportion | 2004 Proportion
| % Difference |
| Age 65 – 74 ≥ 75 |
64.2 (62.3-65.4) 60.3 (58.9-61.7) |
66.8 (65.8-67.9) 65.3 (64.2-66.3)
|
2.64 4.94 |
| Marital Status Married |
71.3 (70.8-71.8) |
72.7 (72.2-73.1)
|
1.33 |
| Smoking Status Never Smoked |
71.0 (70.5-71.5) |
72.1 (71.6-72.6) |
1.07 |
Conclusion: Overall, there was no change in estimates of self-report dental visits in the preceding 12 months between 1999 and 2004. Although, some significant increases were noted for older adults, married persons, and non smokers, these changes should be considered with caution considering the limitations of self-report surveys. Further analyses will be presented on the influence of sex and income.