TY - JOUR T1 - The influence of changes in dental care coverage on dental care utilization among retirees and near-retirees in the United States, 2004-2006. JF - Am J Public Health Y1 - 2011 A1 - Richard J. Manski A1 - John F Moeller A1 - Patricia A St Clair A1 - Jody Schimmel A1 - Haiyan Chen A1 - John V Pepper KW - Age Factors KW - Aged KW - Dental Care KW - Employment KW - Female KW - Health Care Surveys KW - Humans KW - Insurance, Dental KW - Male KW - Medically Uninsured KW - Middle Aged KW - Retirement KW - Socioeconomic factors KW - United States AB -

OBJECTIVES: We examined dental care utilization transition dynamics between 2004 and 2006 in the context of changing dental coverage status.

METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study for persons aged 51 years and older to estimate a multivariable model of dental care use transitions with controls for dental coverage and retirement transitions and other potentially confounding covariates.

RESULTS: We found that Americans aged 51 years and older who lost dental coverage between the 2004 and 2006 survey periods were more likely to stop dental care use between periods, and those who gained coverage were more likely to start dental care use between periods, than those without coverage in both periods.

CONCLUSIONS: Dental coverage transitions and status have a strong effect on transitions in dental care use. Given that retirement is a time when many experience a loss of dental coverage, older adults may be at risk for sporadic dental care and even stopping use, leading to worse dental and potentially overall health.

PB - 101 VL - 101 IS - 10 N1 - Times Cited: 0 Manski, Richard J. Moeller, John F. St Clair, Patricia A. Schimmel, Jody Chen, Haiyan Pepper, John V. U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21852656?dopt=Abstract U2 - PMC3174340 U4 - dental Care/dental insurance/employee benefits/health care policy/health Status/health Insurance ER -