FACTORS INFLUENCING PERCEIVED NEED FOR DENTAL-CARE BY ACTIVE-DUTY US MILITARY PERSONNEL

This study explores factors that influence perceived need for dental c are among active duty U.S. military personnel. The data were collected on a prestratified random sample of 12,950 (76% response rate) servic e members between April 1994 and January 1995. Participants received a comprehensive oral examination from a dentist and answered queries co ncerning perceived need on self-administered questionnaires. Using biv ariate and logistic regression analyses, we examined the association b etween demographic and clinical measures and perceived need for dental care. Bivariate results show that half of all U.S. military personnel perceive a need for dental care, with statistically significant diffe rences across race, rank, education, branch of service, dental health class, and dental utilization. Logistic regression results show that t he likelihood of perceived need is influenced by age, race, rank, bran ch of service, dental disease, dental health class, and dental utiliza tion, Extensive dental decay is the strongest predictor of perceived n eed in this population.