title: Socioeconomic inequalities in self-perceived oral health among adults in Chile.
abstract: This paper studies the socioeconomic disparities in self-perceived oral health among Chilean adults and in the perceived physical, functional, psychological and social consequences of oral health.
  
  
  
  In February 2011, 1,413 residents of Metropolitan Area of Santiago, Chile, were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire and examined by dentists for dental status and oral health conditions. Only adults 18 to 60 years old affiliated with the public healthcare system were eligible to participate. We estimate socioeconomic gradients in self-perceived oral health and its distinct dimensions. We use the Heckman two-step procedure to control for selection bias given the non-random nature of the sample. In addition, we use a two-equation ordered response model given the discrete nature of the dependent variable.
  
  
  
  There is a non-linear socioeconomic gradient in self-perceived oral health even after controlling for oral health status. The gradient is steep at the lower end of the income distribution and constant at mid-income levels. These socioeconomic disparities are also found for the psychological and social dimensions of self-perceived oral health, but not for the functional limitations and physical pain dimensions.
  
  
  
  The findings are consistent with inequities in the access to oral health services due to insufficient provision in the public sector and costly options in the private sector.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.affiliation: Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, UK.
authors.forename: Cristián
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larroulet
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palomer
authors.affiliation: School of Government, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, and Núcleo Milenio Modelos de Crisis (NS 130017), Diagonal Las Torres 2640, 234A, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile. andrea.repetto@uai.cl.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2378-9684
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Repetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Brown University, 64 Waterman Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verdugo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D017150:Public Sector; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chile; Health-related quality of life; Inequality; Socioeconomic gradients