Payment Methods and Demographics Influence Patterns of Dental Service Utilization

Abstract

Objective: To describe the patterns of specific dental service utilization among the various sociodemographic groups in North Carolina served by the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (ECU SoDM). Design: This was a descriptive study utilizing self-reported patients' sociodemographic information, payment method history, and CDT codes of procedures performed. Deidentified clinical data recorded for 26 710 patients and 534 983 procedures from 2011 to 2020 were extracted from a centralized axiUm database. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25.0. Cross-tabulations between dental service utilizations, patients' demographics, and payment method were performed using chi-square analysis. Setting: Nine dental clinic sites across the state of North Carolina. Participants: In total, 26 710 adults 23 years to older than 65 years were included in the sample for this study. Main Outcome Measures: In total, 534 983 procedure codes completed for the eligible patients were cross-tabulated with payment method. Results: Payment method was significantly related to individual characteristics including location of service, age, race, ethnicity, and untreated decay (P