Dentist Supply, Dental Care Utilization, and Oral Health Among Rural and Urban U.S. Residents.

摘要

Compared to their urban counterparts, adults in United States (U.S.) rural locations have higher rates of dental caries and permanent loss of teeth. The lower availability of dentists in rural communities may contribute to this situation. Because of these concerns, expansion of dentist supply has been recommended to increase access and improve oral health for rural Americans. This national study examines whether adults in rural locations compared to those in urban locations reported lower dental care utilization, a higher prevalence of dental disease or both after accounting for socioeconomic and other factors. It also begins to explore whether dentist supply influences utilization and oral health outcomes in rural and urban locations.