Grootendorst P: Dental insurance, income and the use of dental care in Canada

Abstract Using recent Canadian health survey data, we investigate the effect of individuals' socio-economic status on their use of dental services and dental insurance coverage. Our results point to an important socio-economic gradient in the use of dental services. The probability of receiving any dental care over the course of a year increases markedly with dental insurance, household income, and ones level of educational attainment. Conditional on receiving some dental care, however, ones general oral health -not financial factors -largely determines visit frequency. The insurance effect appears to operate through a reduction in price paid at point of service, not the decision of those with high anticipated need for dental care to selectively purchase insurance. Indeed, those with poorer self assessed oral health, as well as those from Quebec (where dental benefits are subject to personal income tax), and those 65+ (who have likely lost employer-provided coverage) are less likely to be insured