Use of preschool dental services in a New Zealand birth cohort.

The utilisation of preschool dental services was examined prospectively in a birth cohort of New Zealand 4-year-old children. There were highly significant associations between non-utilisation of dental care services and a series of measures of family social background and the quality of care provided to the child. Factors associated with increased risks of non-utilisation of dental services included: mother of non-European ethnic origin; low gross family income; single parent family; non-attendance at preschool education facilities; failure to attend community nurse services and a lower utilisation of routine child health care services including immunisations and routine postnatal checks. The implications of the non-utilisation of preschool dental care are discussed in the context of the more general problem of providing an adequate and equitable standard of health care for children.