Disparities in Preventive Dental Care for Pregnant Women in New York State: Analysis of PRAMS 2004-07

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether socioeconomic disparities exist regarding the utilization of preventive dental care among pregnant women in New York State in the years 2004-2007. Methods: We analyzed New York State Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data collected in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Mothers were identified from birth certificate records of live births in NY State and were mailed a written questionnaire. Women were asked: “During your most recent pregnancy, did you have your teeth cleaned?” We examined whether the proportion of women in New York State who reported having had a dental cleaning during pregnancy in the years 2004-2007 varied by race/ethnicity, income, education, marital status, and by Medicaid status. Results: For all years, the proportion of women who reported a cleaning during pregnancy varied by race/ethnicity, education, income, marital status, and by Medicaid status. Blacks and Hispanics were less likely than Whites to report a dental cleaning (Blacks: 22.4-35.8%; Hispanics: 21.7-35.8% vs. Whites: 43.6-48.7%). The proportion of women who reported a dental cleaning during pregnancy was higher in those with more education (<high school: 17.0-27.4%, high school: 32.8-35.6% vs. high school+: 45.0-53.4%), higher incomes (<$10,000: 16.3-25.6%; $10-24,999: 27.4-32.0%; $25-49,999 34.2-42.1; $50,000+: 51.0-61.2%) and was related to marital status (married: 44.5%-54.2% vs. unmarried: 24.9-29.1%) and to Medicaid status (Medicaid: 26.2%-28.4% vs. no Medicaid: 45.3%-54.1%). Conclusions: These results suggest that there are great disparities in preventive dental care in New York and that these disparities have persisted over time.