title: A community-based randomized trial of postcard mailings to increase dental utilization among low-income children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increasing awareness about the importance of preventive dental care among low-income families has been considered to be key to overcoming nonfinancial access to care barriers for children. The purpose of this randomized, controlled trial was to measure the impact of  postcard mailings on dental utilization by low-income children through a dental society program designed to increase access to dental care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five thousand eight hundred and seven low-income 2- to 4-year-olds were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (1) Group 1 (n=2,014)  received postcards containing information on how to enroll in the Yakima County Access to Baby and Child Dentistry program; (2) Group 2 (n=2,014) received the enrollment information as well as additional information on the availability of fluoride varnish and the need to visit the dentist  by the age of 1-year-old; and (3) Group 3 (n=1,779) did not receive postcards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preventive services utilization rates were not different among the groups: 61% for Group 1, 62% for Group 2, and 60% for Group 3, although rates were high for a Medicaid population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postcard mailings did not significantly increase utilization of preventive dental services. Other strategies to increase utilization of preventive oral health measures are needed.
authors: Center for Clinical Genomics, Oral Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Asia
authors: A
authors: Dela Cruz
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Mueller
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Milgrom
authors: Susan E
authors: SE
authors: Coldwell
mesh_terms: D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058015:Health Communication; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011177:Postal Service; D011203:Poverty; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017010:Reminder Systems; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D014861:Washington; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical