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Disparities in regular source of dental care among mothers of medicaid-enrolled preschool children.

Grembowski D, Spiekerman C, Milgrom P

Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, University of Washington (UW), WA, USA. grem@u.washington.edu

For mothers of Medicaid children aged 3 to 6 years, we examined whether mothers' characteristics and local supply of dentists and public dental clinics are associated with having a regular source of dental care. Disproportionate stratified sampling by racial/ethnic group selected 11,305 children aged 3 to 6 in Medicaid in Washington State. Mothers (n=4,373) completed a mixed-mode survey that was combined with dental supply measures. Results reveal 38% of mothers had a regular dental place and 27% had a regular dentist. Dental insurance, greater education, income, length of residence, and better mental health were associated with having a regular place or dentist for Black, Hispanic, and White mothers, along with increased supply of private dentists and safety net clinics for White and Hispanic mothers. Mothers lacking a regular source of dental care may increase oral health disparities disfavoring their children.

Published 5 November 2007 in J Health Care Poor Underserved, 18(4): 789-813.
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