title: Utilization of dental services in the United States and an insured population.
abstract: Dental service utilization rates among 1.2 million Pennsylvania Blue Shield dental insureds are compared to rates in the US population. Insurance appears to stimulate the utilization of dental services above national norms; children appear to be a major beneficiary of insurance's incentive effect on dental service use. The implications of these findings for health planners and dental insurance providers are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054598:Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans; D002648:Child; D003729:Dental Care; D003815:Dentists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States