UTILIZATION OF DENTAL-CARE AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SWEDISH DENTAL-HEALTH INSURANCE

The dental care utilization rate in an urban Swedish population over a n 11-year period was studied, starting at the time of the introduction of a national dental health insurance. The systematically selected sa mples comprised, for each calendar year of the period, approximately 1 1,000 inhabitants more than 20 years of age in the city of Goteborg. I n 1976 and 1984 information on utilization was coupled to information about various demographic, socioeconomic, and disablement factors. In addition, a longitudinal study was performed of 8012 people who reside d in Goteborg in 1976 and 1984, correlating dental attendance rates wi th the same factors. The results showed that dental care utilization i ncreased among both men and women, mostly in age groups more than 65 y ears of age. Utilization rate in 1976 and in 1984 was independently as sociated with age, sex, income, marital status, disablement, and regio ns of the city, and it is concluded that the goal of the dental insura nce act, which was, among other things, to contribute to a more equita ble distribution of dental care, in many respects has not been achieve d. Early identification of people with low utilization may provide a m eans to obtain the most pronounced improvement in dental health.