AIM: To examine the relationship between access to routine primary healthcare (PHC) and receipt of dental visits. BACKGROUND: PHC plays a vital role in promoting overall health and connecting patients to preventive services. Regular dental visits are crucial for preventing oral health issues and managing chronic diseases associated with oral health. However, disparities in healthcare access may influence the likelihood of individuals receiving necessary dental care. METHODS: Data from 8, 727 participants ≥ 20 years in the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey were used for cross-sectional analysis. Logistic regressions explored the relationship between PHC and 'past-year dental visits', while controlling for sociodemographics. FINDINGS: 84% of the study population had access to routine PHC, and 63% had a past-year dental visit. Adults with PHC were significantly more likely to have had a past-year dental visit (OR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.76-2.84). This was true for women, the oldest adult age group, and those with the highest educational levels. Black study participants were less likely to have had a past-year dental visit (OR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.83), so were the unmarried and those without health insurance. CONCLUSION: Access to routine PHC significantly increases the likelihood of a past-year dental visit, with gender, age, and educational levels having strongest effects. However, Black adults remain less likely to utilize dental services, even with access to routine PHC and health insurance. Strengthening the physician-dentist patient partnership through integrated delivery models of care that embed oral health services with primary care could be key.
Camp et al. (Thu,) studied this question.