Division of Health Services Research, University of Maryland Dental School, 650 West Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Am J Public Health. 2011 Oct;101(10):1882-91. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300227. Epub 2011 Aug 18.
We examined dental care utilization transition dynamics between 2004 and 2006 in the context of changing dental coverage status.
We used data from the Health and Retirement Study for persons aged 51 years and older to estimate a multivariable model of dental care use transitions with controls for dental coverage and retirement transitions and other potentially confounding covariates.
We found that Americans aged 51 years and older who lost dental coverage between the 2004 and 2006 survey periods were more likely to stop dental care use between periods, and those who gained coverage were more likely to start dental care use between periods, than those without coverage in both periods.
Dental coverage transitions and status have a strong effect on transitions in dental care use. Given that retirement is a time when many experience a loss of dental coverage, older adults may be at risk for sporadic dental care and even stopping use, leading to worse dental and potentially overall health.
我们研究了在牙科保险覆盖范围变化的背景下，2004 年至 2006 年间牙科护理利用的转变动态。
我们使用了健康与退休研究的数据，该数据针对年龄在 51 岁及以上的人群，估计了一个多变量模型，以控制牙科保险和退休转换以及其他潜在混杂的协变量，来预测牙科护理使用的转变。
我们发现，在 2004 年至 2006 年调查期间失去牙科保险的 51 岁及以上的美国人，在两个时期之间停止使用牙科护理的可能性更大，而那些获得保险的人，在两个时期之间开始使用牙科护理的可能性更大，而那些两个时期都没有保险的人则没有这种可能性。
牙科保险的转换和状态对牙科护理使用的转变有很强的影响。鉴于退休是许多人失去牙科保险的时期，老年人可能面临零星的牙科护理甚至停止使用的风险，从而导致更差的牙齿健康状况，甚至可能导致整体健康状况恶化。
