Preventive Dental Care Among New York City Children, 2009

This study aims to describe the prevalence of preventive dental care among New York City (NYC) children, including disparities by race/ethnicity or poverty and to identify health care utilization factors associated with these outcomes. Data were obtained from the 2009 NYC Child Community Health Survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated for preventive dental visits in the past 12 months among children aged 2–12 years (n = 2,435) and receipt of sealants among children aged 6–12 years (n = 1,416). Multivariable logistic regression was used to compute adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs). One in four (23.3 %) NYC children aged 2–12 years, including 57.3 % of 2–3-year olds, had no preventive dental visit in the past 12 months. Lack of preventive visits was more prevalent among Asian/Pacific Islander children compared with non-Hispanic white children (aPR 1.42 [95 % CI 1.07–1.89]), and among children living in poorer households compared with wealthier households (aPR 1.47 [95 % CI 1.13–1.92]). Two-thirds (64.5 %) of children aged 6–12 years never had sealants. Compared with non-Hispanic white children, Asian/Pacific Islander (aPR 1.26 [95 % CI 1.01–1.56]), non-Hispanic black (aPR 1.24 [95 % CI 1.06–1.46]), and Hispanic (aPR 1.21 [95 % CI 1.04–1.41]) children were more likely not to have sealants, as were children without a personal health care provider compared with children with a provider (aPR 1.33 [95 % CI 1.14–1.56]). Disparities in preventive dental care exist by race/ethnicity, poverty, and health care utilization. Personal health care providers may improve children’s oral health by linking them to preventive dental care and promoting sealant application.