title: Preventive dental care among New York City children, 2009.
abstract: This study aims to describe the prevalence of preventive dental care among New York City (NYC) children, including disparities by race/ethnicity or poverty and to identify health care utilization factors associated with these outcomes. Data were obtained from the 2009 NYC Child Community Health Survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated for preventive dental visits in the past 12 months among children aged 2-12 years (n = 2,435) and receipt of sealants among children aged 6-12 years (n = 1,416). Multivariable logistic regression was used to compute adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs). One in four (23.3 %) NYC children aged 2-12 years, including 57.3 % of 2-3-year olds, had no preventive dental visit in the past 12 months. Lack of preventive visits was more prevalent among Asian/Pacific Islander children compared with non-Hispanic white children (aPR 1.42 [95 % CI 1.07-1.89]), and among children living in poorer households compared with wealthier households (aPR 1.47 [95 % CI 1.13-1.92]). Two-thirds (64.5 %) of children aged 6-12 years never had sealants. Compared with non-Hispanic white children, Asian/Pacific Islander (aPR 1.26 [95 % CI 1.01-1.56]), non-Hispanic black (aPR 1.24 [95 % CI 1.06-1.46]), and Hispanic (aPR 1.21 [95 % CI 1.04-1.41]) children were more likely not to have sealants, as were children without a personal health care provider compared with children with a provider (aPR 1.33 [95 % CI 1.14-1.56]). Disparities in preventive dental care exist by race/ethnicity, poverty, and health care utilization. Personal health care providers may improve children's oral health by linking them to preventive dental care and promoting sealant application.
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, CN-6, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA. jnorton1@health.nyc.gov
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jasek
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaye
mesh_terms: D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants