ADULT DENTAL CARE UTILIZATION DECLINING; CHILD UTILIZATION INCREASING

FACT:  The percentage of adults receiving dental care declined from a high of 41.2% in 2003 to 37% in 2010.

FACT:  The largest decline by age group in adult dental utilization is in the 35-49 year range, dropping from 43% in 2003 to 38% in 2010.

FACT:  Two primary reasons for this decline in utilization are (1) reduction in dental benefits offered by employers and (2) Medicaid dental benefits for low-income adults have decreased.

While adults are seeking less care, utilization among children has increased, rising from an average of 42.4% in 2000 to 46.3% in 2010.  Utilization among low-income children when broken out as a separate category, increased a whopping 53% between 2000-2010. 

These statistics were part of research by the Health Policy Resources Center (HPRC) of the American Dental Association.