Dental therapists in general dental practices: an economic evaluation.

Dental access disparities are well documented and have been recognized as a national problem. Their major cause is the lack of reasonable Medicaid reimbursement rates for the underserved. Specifically, Medicaid reimbursement rates for children average 40 percent below market rates.

Expanded function allied dental personnel and dental practice productivity and efficiency.

This study examined the impact of expanded function allied dental personnel on the productivity and efficiency of general dental practices. Detailed practice financial and clinical data were obtained from a convenience sample of 154 general dental practices in Colorado. In this state, expanded function dental assistants can provide a wide range of reversible dental services/procedures, and dental hygienists can give local anesthesia.

Economic impact of regulating the use of amalgam restorations.

Objective: This article estimates the financial impact of a ban on amalgam restorations for selected population groups: the entire population, children, and children and women of childbearing age.

Methods: Using claim and enrollment data from Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana and the American Dental Association Survey of Dental Services Rendered, we estimated the per capita use and annual rate of change in amalgam restorations for each age, gender, and socioeconomic subgroup. We used population projections to obtain national estimates of amalgam use, and the dental component of the Consumer Price Index to estimate the annual rate of change in fees.

The dental safety net in Connecticut.

Background: Many poor, medically disabled and geographically isolated populations have difficulty accessing private-sector dental care and are considered underserved. To address this problem, public- and voluntary-sector organizations have established clinics and provide care to the underserved. Collectively, these clinics are known as "the dental safety net.

The importance of productivity in estimating need for dentists.

Background: Although the number of dentists is an important determinant of supply, other factors also contribute. Technological advancements and well-trained and managed auxiliary personnel affect supply by allowing dentists to produce more dental services per unit of time.

Methods: This article examines trends in dental output, productivity, number of dentists and dental care utilization from 1960 through 1998.

The dental work force in Wisconsin: ten-year projections.

Background: The national dentist-to-population ratio is expected to decline during the next decade. The Wisconsin Dental Association undertook a study to determine the impact of this decline on the future supply of and demand for dental care in Wisconsin.

Methods: Using state and national data, the researchers estimated the number of dentists leaving and entering the state for the years 2001 through 2010.