title: Dental insurance and dental service use by U.S. women of childbearing age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral health has a significant effect on health, and for women, poor oral health can lead to poor birth outcomes and can affect their child's health. Nursing interventions to improve the oral health of at-risk women have the potential to increase maternal and child systemic and oral health. The identification of women at a high risk for poor oral health is a necessary to develop and evaluate these interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined the factors related to dental insurance and dental service use for women of childbearing age in the United States. A secondary analysis of the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was completed to examine the predisposing, enabling, and need variables associated with dental insurance status and dental service use in a representative random sample of 1,071 women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that over 40% of women had no dental insurance. Women with less education, lower income, and dental need were significantly less likely to have dental insurance. Dental utilization by the uninsured was low and a racial/ethnic disparity was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A lack of dental insurance and dental service utilization is a significant concern. Nurses working with low-income women should educate the population about oral health and advocate for policies to increase dental insurance coverage.
authors.affiliation: Wright State University College of Nursing and Health, Dayton, Ohio 45435, USA. marybeth.kaylor@wright.edu
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kaylor
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Polivka
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaudry
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salsberry
authors.forename: Alvin G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003729:Dental Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult