The impact of dental benefits on the utilization of dental services by low-income children in western Pennsylvania.

PURPOSE This study examines the impact of dental coverage provided through a health insurance program for low-income children on the use of dental services in Western Pennsylvania. METHODS A before-after design with a control group was used. Telephone interviews were conducted with the families of newly enrolled children at the time of enrollment, at 6 months and at 12 months after enrollment. Both structured and open-ended questions were asked about the use of health care services, unmet need/delayed care and causes and consequences of unmet need/delayed care. A second group of families were interviewed 12 months after the study group was initially interviewed to form a comparison sample. The study population consisted of 750 children who were continuously enrolled in the program for 12 months and 460 comparison children. RESULTS After enrollment, the proportion of children with a regular source of dental care increased 42%, while the proportion of those who had a preventive dental visit increased 50%. The proportion of children reporting unmet need/delayed care for dental services fell from 43% to 10%. The program had a larger impact on the use of dental services than on the use of medical services. CONCLUSIONS The extension of dental benefits to SCHIP-eligible children in Western Pennsylvania had a positive impact on children by increasing their access to dental care and to preventive dental services.