Objective: To evaluate dental attendance among adults in Tehran, Iran in relation to their dental insurance status.
Design: A cross-sectional survey based on telephone interviews.
Participants: 1,531 adults in Tehran.
Methods: Using a two-stage stratified random technique, 3,200 phone numbers were drawn; 1,669 were unavailable (busy, no answer, fax, line blocked). Of the 1,531 subjects answering the phone call, 224 were excluded (aged <18 years) and 221 refused to participate, leaving 1,086 subjects (83%) in the final sample. Data analysis included the Chi-square test, logistic regression and the corresponding odds ratios (OR).
Results: Of the respondents (n=1,086), 57% were women, 62% were under 35 years of age, 70% had dental insurance and 52%, more women than men (p=0.03), reported having had a dental visit within the past 12 months. Dental attendance was more likely for women (OR=1.4), for those with a medium (OR=1.5) or high (OR=1.9) level of education, and for those with commercial insurance (OR=2.0).
Conclusion: In a country with a low dentist-population rate dental attendance is positively related not only to insurance status, but also to gender and to level of education. Accordingly, dental insurance coverage should be expanded to facilitate access to dental care.