title: Variations in self-reported provision of services by general dentists in private practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Variations in dentists' provision of services have been documented, but information about contributing factors is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used responses to a 2003 survey of general dentists in private practice in California (46 percent response rate; 3,098 dentists included in the final sample) to assess variations in service provision and its correlates. They used logistic regressions to assess the correlation of various characteristics with the self-reported percentage of time spent providing services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show variations in services provided by general dentists in private practice. Multiple factors, including the dentist's sex, region of practice, employment of hygienists, patients' race and population income in the area of practice were significantly and independently associated with provision of services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey results reflect practice variations that existed before the latest economic downturn, which resulted in a loss of jobs and medical and dental insurance. The data serve as the baseline for future studies of changes in dental practice and for assessing the impact of the 2010 health care reform legislation on dental practice. Practice Implications. Improvements in oral health care, the recent economic decline and health care reform may lead to changes in dental practice and in the dental workforce.
authors: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, and a professor of health services, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. pourat@ucla.edu
authors: Nadereh
authors: N
authors: Pourat
authors: Marvin
authors: M
authors: Marcus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057172:Economic Recession; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010067:Ownership / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010318:Partnership Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult