title: Factors associated with comprehensive dental care following an initial emergency dental visit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to characterize the patient population utilization of a dental home as grouped by: (1) age; (2) sex; and (3) payment method.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of 1,020 patients, who initially presented for an emergency visit, was performed. From the original data pool, 2 groups were delineated: (1) those patients who returned for comprehensive dental care; and (2) those who did not return for comprehensive dental care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with private dental insurance or Medicaid dental benefits were statistically more likely to return for comprehensive oral health care than those with no form of dental insurance. Younger patients (< or =3 years of age) were least likely to return for comprehensive dental care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in care-seeking behaviors. These obstacles are often a barrier to preventive and comprehensive oral health care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health Science, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Kentucky, College of Dentistry, Lexington, USA. jjohn5@email.uky.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Erwin G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Karen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003190:Comprehensive Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014098:Toothache / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy