Clinical and non-clinical variables associated with preventive and curative dental service utilisation: a cross-sectional study among adolescents and young adults in Central Mexico

Abstract

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to identify preventive and curative dental health service utilisation (DHSU) in the context of associated clinical and non-clinical factors among adolescents and young adults in Mexico.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingApplicants to a public university in Mexico.ParticipantsParticipants were 638 adolescents and young adults aged 16–25 randomly selected from university applicants.InterventionsData were collected using a self-administered questionnaire filled out by the students. For assessment of dental caries experience, we used the index of decayed, missing and filled teeth.Primary outcomeThe dependent variable was DHSU in the previous 12 months, coded as 0=non-use, 1=use of curative services and 2=use of preventive services.ResultsThe mean age was 18.76±1.76 years, and 49.2% were women. The prevalence of DHSU was 40.9% (95% CI 37.1 to 44.8) for curative services and 22.9% (95% CI 19.7 to 26.3) for preventive services. The variables associated with curative services were age, sex, mother’s education, dental pain in the previous 12 months, caries experience, use of self-care devices and oral health knowledge. For preventive services, the variables associated were mother’s education, dental pain in the previous 12 months, caries experience, use of self-care devices and self-perception of oral health.ConclusionsWhile differences emerged by type of service, a number of variables (sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics as well as dental factors) remained in the final model. Greater oral health needs and socioeconomic inequalities remained as predictors of both types of DHSU. Given the differences revealed by our study, oral health policies should refer those seeking dental care for oral diseases to preventive services, and promote the use of such services among the poorer and less educated population groups.

Dental pain prevalence associated with caries experience in pediatric patients in a clinical sample in Mexico

“…Mexico is a middle-income country where the majority of the population, especially children and adolescents, have limited access to preventive and curative dental health services. 17,29 This happens against an epidemiological landscape where caries prevalence is high and many lesions are not treated. 5 Results of the present study revealed a positive association between the reason for appointment (curative / emergency) and dental pain as factors more strongly associated with previous pain.…”

Self-Reported Dental Caries by Mexican Elementary and Middle-School Schoolchildren in the Context of Socioeconomic Indicators: A National Ecological Study

“…A largely unregulated system, under the control of dental professionals, leaves costs subject to shifts in the dental marketplace. Finally, many public and private universities across the country have dental clinics that offer services to the general population at prices far below those of private practice [6,38,41,42].…”

Factors Affecting Dental Service Utilisation in Indonesia: A Population-Based Multilevel Analysis

“…A national health survey in 2018 estimated that 96% of Indonesians did not visit a dentist within the past year [ 1 ]. Several factors that influence dental service utilisation have been identified in other countries, such as age, gender, marital status, residential area, education, income, health insurance and individual health needs, including dental pain and self-perceived oral health [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”