Parental perceptions of unmet dental need and cost barriers to care for developmentally disabled children.

PURPOSE The purpose of this investigation was to describe and assess the disparities, if any, in parental perceived cost barriers to oral health care among developmentally disabled children using a national data set. METHODS Data from the 1997 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed using a SUDAAN statistical package. RESULTS After adjusting for age and sex, parental perception of unmet need was significantly associated with developmentally disabled children 2-17 years in lower socioeconomic groups. CONCLUSIONS Though most children from lower socioeconomic groups are eligible for Medicaid coverage, parents of these children perceive cost barriers to dental care. Children with developmental disabilities face even more perceived barriers to care based on family income.