Dental services: Use, expenditures and sources of payment, 1987

Background This article pro rides per capita estimates of dental care utili zation, expenditures mix of services and sources of payment for each of sev eral socioeconomic and demographic categories. Methods. The focus of the analyses presented here is on dental cafe utiliza tion by the U.S, population during 1987. Specifically, national estimates a re provided for dental visits, expenditures, sources of payment and procedu re type for each of several socioeconomic and demographic categories using household data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey, or NMES. Results. During 1987, less that 50 percent of Americans visited a dental of fice. Americans made approximately 292 million dental visits and received a pproximately $30 billion worth of dental care, of which $10 billion was pai d by insurers, $17 billion was paid out of pocket and $1.6 billion was not reimbursed. Conclusions. These analyses establish the magnitude of the dental care mark et and the amounts paid by individual patients, private insurance companies and Medicaid. They also reveal that the type of care received varies among people in distinct socioeconomic and demographic groups. Practice Implications. Although the dental care market is substantial, many Americans do not visit a dentist. By understanding these analyses. practit ioners will be better positioned to meet the dental needs of all Americans.