Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
J Public Health Dent. 2011 Summer;71(3):252-6.
This study examined and compared utilization of dental services by adult U.S. Hispanics 18 years and older in the years 1999 and 2006.
Dental utilization data collected by telephone interviews by the state-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed.
In 2006, the state mean and median prevalence of adult Hispanics with dental visits during the past year were 56.2 percent and 62.1 percent, respectively, and had not changed significantly since 1999. In 40 states, utilization was well below the national prevalence of 70.3 percent. Frequency of dental visits was significantly higher among females and those with higher income (> $50,000), higher education, nonsmokers, and persons having medical health insurance.
Findings from this study suggest that barriers to utilization of dental services among Hispanic adults exist in most states and may contribute to existing oral health disparities. The magnitude of this problem may increase in the future with the expansion of the U.S. Hispanic population.
本研究调查并比较了 1999 年和 2006 年美国成年西班牙裔（18 岁及以上）人群的牙科服务利用情况。
采用基于州的行为风险因素监测系统（BRFSS）的电话访谈收集牙科利用数据进行分析。
2006 年，有过去一年看牙经历的成年西班牙裔人群的州平均比例和中位数比例分别为 56.2%和 62.1%，自 1999 年以来变化不大。在 40 个州，利用率明显低于全国 70.3%的流行率。女性以及收入较高（>50,000 美元）、受教育程度较高、不吸烟和有医疗保险的人群看牙的频率明显更高。
本研究结果表明，大多数州的西班牙裔成年人在利用牙科服务方面存在障碍，这可能导致现有的口腔健康差距。随着美国西班牙裔人口的扩大，未来这个问题的严重程度可能会增加。
