Oral health outcomes in an adult dental population: the impact of payment systems

This study compared the effect of payment systems on recall visits and oral health outcomes for four patient payer groups. The authors reviewed recall audit data obtained over a 4-year period. Dental payer groups in the study population differed with respect to dental outcomes. Patients who had recall visits at 1 year or longer had worse outcomes than patients seen more frequently. A Medicaid subgroup with the greatest number of risk factors displayed improved oral health outcomes when seen on a more frequent recall schedule. Study findings suggest that, given the increased risks to maintaining oral health, patients being supported by public-funded programs would benefit from more frequent recalls. Such an emphasis would appear to provide the opportunity to improve outcomes in disadvantaged populations and increase the quality of care offered.