PubMed · 2005 · 45 citations · 0 references
DentistryDental Public HealthPreventive MedicineOral EpidemiologyOral Health EconomicsTobacco ControlAccess To Dental CareDental Care UtilizationEpidemiology Of Oral DiseasesOral CareOral Disease PreventionTobacco UseDental Care Utilization Among AdultsDental Care Utilization MeasurementDental Care Utilization ModelingDental Service UseLogistic RegressionLogistic Regression AnalysisOral Health EpidemiologySelf-reported Dental Care Use
OBJECTIVE: To examine dental visits among smoking and nonsmoking adults in a nationally representative sample. METHODS: Logistic regression analysis was performed, using a sample of 15,250 US adults from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component 2000. RESULTS: Current smokers were less likely to report dental visits (32.9%) than were nonsmokers (45.0%) during 2000. Differences were statistically significant even after accounting for other predictors of dental care use. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to optimize the oral health of smokers and reduce serious oral diseases may benefit from addressing this lower use of dental services among smokers.