Dental Care Utilization Declined for Adults, Increased for Children During the Past Decade in the United States

 From 2000 to 2010, dental care utilization increased among children and declined among adults. The decline among adults began in the early-2000s.  For children, the increase in utilization was driven entirely by gains among lower income groups. In contrast, utilization declined for all adult income groups, but most severely for poor adults.  Financial barriers to care are growing for adults and are one important factor in explaining the decline in dental care utilization. Dental Care Utilization Declined for Adults, Increased for Children During the Past Decade in the United States