Dental insurance, service use and health outcomes in Australia: a systematic review
Date
2017
Authors
Gnanamanickam, E.
Teusner, D.
Arrow, P.
Brennan, D.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Australian Dental Journal, 2017; 63(1):4-13
Statement of Responsibility
E. S. Gnanamanickam, D. N. Teusner, PG Arrow, D. S. Brennan
Conference Name
Abstract
Private health insurance plays a key role in financing dental care in Australia. Having private dental insurance has been associated with higher levels of access to dental care, visiting for a check-up and receiving a favourable pattern of services. Associations with better oral health have also been reported. In the absence of any existing review, this paper aims to systematically review the relationship between dental insurance and dental service use and/or oral health outcomes in Australia. A systematic search of online databases and subsequent sifting resulted in 36 publications, 33 of which were cross sectional and three cohort analyses. Dental service outcomes were more commonly reported than oral health outcomes. There was considerable heterogeneity in the outcome measures reported, for both service use and health outcomes. Overall, the majority of the evidence was from cross sectional studies and few studies reported analyses adjusted for confounding factors. The consolidated evidence points towards a positive association between dental insurance and dental visiting. Dentally insured adults are likely to have more regular access to dental care and have a more favourable pattern of service use than the uninsured. However, evidence of associations between dental insurance and oral health are mixed.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© 2017 Australian Dental Association