Changes in dental health investment across the adolescent years

Key Points This paper examines changes in investment in oral health (as measured by dental registration) during adolescence and offers explanation for such changes. Identifies groups at risk of poorer oral health. Provides greater insight into adolescent registration for dental services and prompts a review of the role of adolescent dental services. Background Studies investigating investment in health across the life course are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine investment in dental health across adolescence. Methods Changes in dental health investment, as measured by dental registration (months) between when adolescents were aged 11/12 years compared to when they were 15/16-years-old, were investigated using ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions. Adolescents aged 11 or 12 years in April 2003 in the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study were included (n = 13,564). The overall change in registration and changes according to socio-economic status, highest educational attainment of household reference person, parental marital status, as well as the individuals' gender and number of siblings were examined. Within variable disparities at both age groups were also investigated. Results Average number of months registered with a dentist fell from 8.14 months (11/12 years old) to 7.38 months (15/16 years old) (p