Survey of Iowa general dentists regarding the age 1 dental visit.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess Iowa general dentists regarding the age 1 dental visit.


METHODS
A 15-item survey was mailed to 1,521 licensed dentists to address their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding the age 1 dental visit. Chi-square statistics and logistic regression models were used to analyze data.


RESULTS
Seven hundred fifteen (47%) useable surveys were returned from 2 mailings. Five hundred forty (76%) general dentists were familiar with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) age 1 dental visit recommendation. Most reported obtaining this information through continuing education (37%). Eleven percent believed the first dental visit should occur between 0 and 11 months of age, and 66% reported seeing children younger than 2. "Prefer to refer infants to a pediatric dentist" (20%) was the most common reason for not seeing children 0 to 23 months old. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that dentists who believed children should have their first dental visit at 0 to 23 months and those willing to see children at age 0 to 23 months were younger, more recent graduates, more likely to be female, aware of the AAPD recommendations, and were already seeing children 0 to 23 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of Iowa general dentists are aware of the AAPD age 1 dental visit recommendation.
Wolfe
Jenifer D
JD
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Weber-Gasparoni
Karin
K
Kanellis
Michael J
MJ
Qian
Fang
F
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007484:Iowa; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires