LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF DENTAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO URBAN LOW-INCOME(MEDICAID) PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN SEEKING INITIAL DENTAL-CARE

This retrospective longitudinal study analyzed profile and cost of den tal services provided to urban low-income (Medicaid) preschool childre n seeking initial dental care. Clinical and sociodemographic data for Medicaid children, ages five years and under at the time of their firs t dental visit, were obtained from the dental records of an urban comm unity health center clinic located in a fluoridated area. The sample c onsisted predominantly of minority children (males=54; females=43) who were initially seen during a continuous six-month period in 1991. The children were then observed for a period of one year from the date of first service. At the initial dental visit, the children had a mean a ge of 3.7 years and dmft of 4.4 with two-thirds of them exhibiting den tal caries. The children made an average of 2.3 visits with more than two-fifths of them receiving at least one treatment service during the year. Children four years of age and older at the initial visit, had greater caries prevalence, higher mean dmft, made more dental visits a nd incurred greater annual expenditure. Greater proportion of females and older children (greater than or equal to 4 years) received restora tions and extractions. It is concluded that treatment for dental carie s is a significant dental service provided to urban low-income (Medica id) preschool children seeking initial dental care. The results of thi s study suggest that preschool programs should target these children a nd promote an initial dental visit before four years of age particular ly among females.