Access to dental care: the triad of essential factors in access-to-care programs.
BACKGROUND
Solutions to the problem of limited access to dental care for some segments of the population are being sought. Certain factors in access-to-dental-care program design are critical to the success of these programs.


BACKGROUND
The author discusses the triad of factors that are essential in the successful design and operation of programs aimed at improving access to dental care for underserved populations.


CONCLUSIONS
The author found that attention must be paid to creating an effective demand for dental care, an adequate dental work force to respond to that demand and an economic environment that enables patients and dentists to participate in any programs that are aimed at improving access to care.


CONCLUSIONS
Failure to adequately address demand, work force and economic factors will condemn any program designed to increase access to dental care to failure at worst, or to limited success at best.
Guay
Albert H
AH
American Dental Association, Chicago, Ill. 60611, USA. guaya@ada.org
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce