Dental procedures among children age birth to 20, United States, 1999 and 2009.

Objective: To describe dental procedures received by US children and adolescents by poverty status and dental insurance coverage.

Methods: Data for this analysis came from the 1999 and 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys. The primary outcome variable represented the types of dental procedures that were received during dental visits in the preceding year.

Dental service mix among older adults aged 65 and over, United States, 1999 and 2009.

Objectives: The oral health of older Americans will assume increasing importance because of their increasing numbers and the evolving connections between oral health and general health. To establish a baseline and provide data for oral health workforce models, this report describes the types of dental procedures received by US adults 65 years and older in 2009 and looks at trends since 1999.

Methods: Data for this analysis came from the 1999 and 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Dental service mix among working-age adults in the United States, 1999 and 2009.

Objective: In the United States, health-care costs are increasing while state and federal budgets contract. In order to establish a baseline and provide data for alternative oral health workforce models, this report describes the types of dental procedures received by US working-age adults in 2009 and looks at trends since 1999.

Methods: Data for this analysis came from the 1999 and 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys.

Enhancing pharmacists' role as oral health advisors.

Objective: To examine the expanded role of pharmacists as oral health advisors.

Setting: U.S.

Expanding the physician's role in addressing the oral health of adults.

Many disadvantaged adults visit physicians or hospital emergency departments to receive relief from dental pain. Physicians also see patients with general questions or concerns about their oral health. Unfortunately, because physicians generally have received little oral health training, patients often do not receive comprehensive emergency services or appropriate counseling.

Health literacy impact on patient-provider interactions involving the treatment of dental problems.

Health literacy-related problems can interfere with effective doctor-patient communication and effective patient care. This study examined several health literacy-related markers for patients seeking treatment in hospital emergency departments and physician and dentist offices for dental problems and injuries. Participants consisted of low-income white, black, and Hispanic adults who had experienced a dental problem or injury during the previous twelve months and who visited a hospital emergency department, physician, or dentist for treatment.

Behavioral and socioeconomic correlates of dental problem experience and patterns of health care-seeking.

Background: To recognize and better understand barriers to dental care, the authors studied behavioral and socioeconomic factors specific to low-income and minority populations that contribute to patterns of professional health care-seeking.

Methods: A stratified random sample of 27,002 Maryland households participated in a cross-sectional telephone survey. The authors targeted respondents who were low-income non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black or Hispanic who had experienced a dental problem or injury during the previous 12 months, as well as similar people with higher incomes for comparison.

Comparison of patient visits to emergency departments, physician offices, and dental offices for dental problems and injuries.

Objectives: Our understanding of the use of emergency departments (EDs) and physician offices for the management of dental problems is limited. We undertook this study to examine whether there are differences in their use by low-income White and minority adults as compared with higher-income adults.

Methods: Participantsincluded White, Black, and Hispanic adults who had experi enced a dental problem during the previous 12 months and who visited a physician, ED, or dentist for treatment.

Comparison of patient centeredness of visits to emergency departments, physicians, and dentists for dental problems and injuries.

Background: Patient-centered care has a positive impact on patient health status. This report compares patient assessments of patient centeredness during treatment in hospital emergency departments (EDs) and physician and dentist offices for dental problems and injuries.

Research Design: Participants included low-income White, Black, and Hispanic adults who had experienced a dental problem or injury during the previous 12 months and who visited an emergency department, physician, or dentist for treatment.

Low-income and minority patient satisfaction with visits to emergency departments and physician offices for dental problems.

Objectives: Individuals lacking access to dentists may use hospital emergency departments (EDs) or physicians (MDs) for the management of their dental problems. This study examined visits by minority and low-income individuals to physicians and hospital emergency departments for the treatment of dental problems with the goal of exploring the nature of treatment provided and patient satisfaction with the care received.

Methods: Eight focus group sessions were conducted with 53 participants drawn from low-income White, Black, and Hispanic adults who had experienced a dental problem and who had sought MD/ED care at least once during the previous 12 months.

The role of non-dental health professionals in providing access to dental care for low-income and minority patients.

The disadvantaged suffer disproportionately from dental problems. These persons are more likely to have untreated oral health problems and associated pain, and also are more likely to forego dental treatment even when in pain. There has been increased emphasis on the potential role of physicians in alleviating oral health disparities, especially among children.

Toothache pain: behavioral impact and self-care strategies.

A computer-assisted telephone interview in Maryland of adults who had low income and were Hispanic, Black, and White and who had experienced a toothache during the previous 12 months was conducted. Respondents reported a high prevalence of toothaches, with 44.3% having experienced more than five toothaches during the preceding 10 years.

Role of pharmacists in consulting with the underserved regarding toothache pain.

Objective: To examine the pharmacist's role in managing toothache pain from the patient's perspective.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Maryland during April and May 2006.

Toothache pain: a comparison of visits to physicians, emergency departments and dentists.

Background: Researchers' understanding of the use of emergency departments (EDs) and physicians' offices for the treatment of toothaches is limited. The authors conducted a study to explore their use by low-income and minority adults in comparison with the use of traditional dental services.

Methods: Participants included low-income white, African-American and Hispanic adults who had experienced a toothache during the previous 12 months.

Soy isoflavone intake and estrogen excretion patterns in young women: effect of probiotic administration.

Background: Soy isoflavones may lower breast cancer risk through altered hepatic estrogen metabolism, leading to increased urinary excretion ratios of 2-hydroxyestrone (20HE1) to 16a-hydroxyestrone (16alphaOHE1).

Materials And Methods: Urinary excretion of 20HE1/16alphaOHE1 was measured in 36 healthy, pre-menstrual women before and after ingestion of a soy-protein formula containing 120 mg of isoflavone daily for one month. Since isoflavone absorption and metabolism depends on intestinal bacteria, effects of co-administration of Lactobacillus GG (2 x 10(12)) on estrogen ratios and isoflavone excretion were studied.

Coping with toothache pain: a qualitative study of low-income persons and minorities.

Objectives: This study examined the behavioral impact of toothache pain as well as self-care strategies for pain relief among minority and low-income individuals.

Methods: Eight focus group sessions were conducted with 66 participants drawn from low-income non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic adults over the age of 20 who had experienced a toothache during the previous 12-month period and who had utilized self-care or care from a nondentist.

Results: Toothache pain was described as intense, throbbing, miserable, or unbearable.

Adult patient visits to physicians for dental problems.

Background And Objectives: Most physicians lack substantive training in dentistry and are usually not capable of providing definitive dental care. Therefore, physician offices are generally not the most appropriate site for the management of most dental problems. This study was conducted to examine the rate with which patients visit physician offices for the treatment of dental problems and their satisfaction with the treatment received.

Visits to non-dentist health care providers for dental problems.

Background And Objectives: Although poor and minority adults experience greater levels of dental disease, they frequently face cost and other system-level barriers to obtaining dental care. These individuals may be forced to use physicians or hospital emergency rooms for the treatment of dental problems. This study was conducted to gain a better understanding of the role that non-dentist health care providers play in providing access to oral health care services.

Attitudes of advanced dental education students toward individuals with AIDS.

The number of patients with HIV/AIDS who receive dental care is increasing. This study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the attitudes of dentists enrolled in postgraduate training toward AIDS and homosexuals. Each respondent received a 500-word patient case vignette and two scales for recording impressions of the person described in the vignette.

Attitudes of dental hygiene students toward individuals with AIDS.

This study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of dental hygiene students' attitudes toward AIDS and homosexuals. Each respondent received a 500-word patient case vignette and two scales for recording impressions of the person described in the vignette. There were four vignettes, identical except that the portrayed individual's illness was identified as either AIDS or leukemia, and sexual preference as either homosexual or heterosexual.

Medicaid coverage and utilization of adult dental services.

This study evaluated the economic impact of a policy change in adult Maryland Medicaid dental benefits that eliminated reimbursements to dentists. We examined all claims for 2 years before and after the change. Reimbursements to dentists fell to zero from their preenactment period annual rate of US 7.

Dental visits among older U.S. adults, 1999: the roles of dentition status and cost.

Background: The proportion of older adults in the United States will continue to grow during the next few decades. Aging populations will bring unique challenges to dentistry. Understanding dental visit patterns will help the profession become prepared.

Hospital admissions associated with nontraumatic dental emergencies in a Medicaid population.

Few studies have examined visits to hospital EDs and subsequent admission for the treatment of nontraumatic dental emergencies. The present study of Medicaid-eligible adults was conducted to gain a better understanding of the magnitude of this problem. Data tapes describing adult Medicaid patients' hospital ED and admission claims were obtained from the Maryland Medicaid Management Information System.