Relationship Between Children's Dental Needs and Dental Care Utilization: United States, 1988-1994

This study describes the relationship between dental needs and dental care utilization among children. Data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) were used to analyze dental care needs and dental care utilization. Younger children with perceived needs (needs perceived by the child or responsible adult) were more likely to be episodic users of dental care than children without perceived needs. Younger children with normative needs (defined by the presence of untreated caries diagnosed by a dentist) were less likely to be regular users. Older children with perceived or normative needs were more likely to be episodic users and less likely to have had a previous-year visit than children with no needs. Despite their presence, dental needs do not drive dental care use among children, and children's dental care utilization is inadequate.