Abstract
Objectives: This study characterized the self-reported dental utilization practice of long-term survivors of childhood cancer, a group at increased risk for treatment-induced dental abnormalities. Methods: 9,434 survivors and a comparison group of 3,858 siblings completed a 289-item survey that included a question on when their last dental visit occurred. Results: Within the last year 60.4 percent of survivors reported a dental visit. The groups less likely to report a recent dental visit include minority subjects, subjects with low levels of educational attainment, subjects with annual household incomes <$20,000, and those without health insurance. No significant differences between survivors and siblings were seen. Male survivors exposed to cranial radiation were slightly more likely than other male survivors to report a recent dental visit (OR=1.27, 95% CI=1.12, 1.44). Conclusions: The dental utilization practices among survivors of childhood cancer are below recommended levels, even among those at highest risk for dental abnormalities.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 50-54 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Public Health Dentistry |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2004 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Child
- Dental care/utilization
- Health
- Insurance
- Neoplasms
- Questionnaire
- Survivors