Sector-differences in Adults’ Dental Care Service Utilisation: 11-year Register-based Observations
Objective: This register-based study evaluated sector-specific differences in adults’ utilisation of dental care services in Helsinki, Finland in 2007-2017. Methods: The target population comprised all inhabitants aged 20+ years in Helsinki over an 11-year period, from 2007 to 2017. The data, aggreg...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | International Dental Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002065392500005X |
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| author | Miira M. Vehkalahti Ulla Palotie Sinikka Varsio Kaija Hiltunen |
| author_facet | Miira M. Vehkalahti Ulla Palotie Sinikka Varsio Kaija Hiltunen |
| author_sort | Miira M. Vehkalahti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: This register-based study evaluated sector-specific differences in adults’ utilisation of dental care services in Helsinki, Finland in 2007-2017. Methods: The target population comprised all inhabitants aged 20+ years in Helsinki over an 11-year period, from 2007 to 2017. The data, aggregated into 5-year age groups by treatment year and type of treatment, included inhabitants with at least 1 visit to a dentist in the private or public sector. In 2007-2017, the numbers of all patients ranged between 229,772 and 261,488. The patient age groups were analysed for periodontal, restorative, endodontic, and oral surgery treatment received. Attendance rates (%) refer to the number of patients per number of inhabitants. Proportions (%) of patients receiving various treatment types refer to numbers of patients per all patients. Comparisons between the age groups included percentual change in absolute numbers and percentage points in rates. The treatment-year trends were analysed by applying linear regression models. Results: Attendance rate for all adult patients was 49.5% in 2007 and 48.8% in 2017. During the 11-year period, adults’ attendance to private service decreased (31.4%-24.9%) but increased to public service (18.1%-23.9%). Patients receiving periodontal care increased in both the private (67%-72%) and public (36%-45%) sectors, while patients with restorative care decreased in both sectors private (67%-58%) and public (58%-48%). Further, fewer private- than public-sector patients received oral surgery or endodontic treatment. Conclusions: Sector-specific differences in patient treatments may indicate over- or undertreatment choices in restorative and periodontal care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cf6e68d5b7b04480a9aa1fb02e99fddf |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0020-6539 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Dental Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-cf6e68d5b7b04480a9aa1fb02e99fddf2025-08-20T02:28:40ZengElsevierInternational Dental Journal0020-65392025-06-017532025203310.1016/j.identj.2024.12.035Sector-differences in Adults’ Dental Care Service Utilisation: 11-year Register-based ObservationsMiira M. Vehkalahti0Ulla Palotie1Sinikka Varsio2Kaija Hiltunen3Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Corresponding author. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; and Oral Diseases Teaching and Dental Care Unit, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Oral Diseases Teaching and Dental Care Unit, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Corresponding author. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland; and Oral Diseases Teaching and Dental Care Unit, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.Social Services and Health Care Sector, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandObjective: This register-based study evaluated sector-specific differences in adults’ utilisation of dental care services in Helsinki, Finland in 2007-2017. Methods: The target population comprised all inhabitants aged 20+ years in Helsinki over an 11-year period, from 2007 to 2017. The data, aggregated into 5-year age groups by treatment year and type of treatment, included inhabitants with at least 1 visit to a dentist in the private or public sector. In 2007-2017, the numbers of all patients ranged between 229,772 and 261,488. The patient age groups were analysed for periodontal, restorative, endodontic, and oral surgery treatment received. Attendance rates (%) refer to the number of patients per number of inhabitants. Proportions (%) of patients receiving various treatment types refer to numbers of patients per all patients. Comparisons between the age groups included percentual change in absolute numbers and percentage points in rates. The treatment-year trends were analysed by applying linear regression models. Results: Attendance rate for all adult patients was 49.5% in 2007 and 48.8% in 2017. During the 11-year period, adults’ attendance to private service decreased (31.4%-24.9%) but increased to public service (18.1%-23.9%). Patients receiving periodontal care increased in both the private (67%-72%) and public (36%-45%) sectors, while patients with restorative care decreased in both sectors private (67%-58%) and public (58%-48%). Further, fewer private- than public-sector patients received oral surgery or endodontic treatment. Conclusions: Sector-specific differences in patient treatments may indicate over- or undertreatment choices in restorative and periodontal care.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002065392500005XAdultsDental servicesOvertreatmentPrivate sectorPublic sectorUndertreatment |
| spellingShingle | Miira M. Vehkalahti Ulla Palotie Sinikka Varsio Kaija Hiltunen Sector-differences in Adults’ Dental Care Service Utilisation: 11-year Register-based Observations International Dental Journal Adults Dental services Overtreatment Private sector Public sector Undertreatment |
| title | Sector-differences in Adults’ Dental Care Service Utilisation: 11-year Register-based Observations |
| title_full | Sector-differences in Adults’ Dental Care Service Utilisation: 11-year Register-based Observations |
| title_fullStr | Sector-differences in Adults’ Dental Care Service Utilisation: 11-year Register-based Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sector-differences in Adults’ Dental Care Service Utilisation: 11-year Register-based Observations |
| title_short | Sector-differences in Adults’ Dental Care Service Utilisation: 11-year Register-based Observations |
| title_sort | sector differences in adults dental care service utilisation 11 year register based observations |
| topic | Adults Dental services Overtreatment Private sector Public sector Undertreatment |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002065392500005X |
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