Relationship Between Dental Insurance Coverage and Oral Health

Due to the very weak coverage of basic treatment in the dental insurance sector, such services are considered as luxury services for people and the indicators of oral and dental health in Iran are not very favorable. With regard to the supplementary excess treatment coverage by commercial insurances, in this research, the factors affecting the use of dental services were investigated.

The research method was descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional, the statistical population of the present study included patients referred to Tehran clinics in 2022. The sample size in this study was equal to 383 people who were selected by cluster sampling method. The information was collected through a questionnaire and the data were analyzed at the level of descriptive and inferential statistics, one population and binomial t-tests and Friedman’s test.

There is a relationship between insurance coverage of dental services and oral health of people (P=0.000; t=23.99). There is a relationship between the amount of patients' out-of-pocket payments for dental services and oral health status (P=0.000; t=16.117). The amount of insurance payment for dental services has an effect on the amount of use of dental services (P=0.000; t=29.73). The demographic characteristics of the insured (DMFT index, age, gender, education level, marital status) have an effect on the use of dental services (P=0.000; t=33.04).

Due to the relationship between insurance coverage, payment amount, age and education level of people with oral and dental health, the officials and practitioners of oral and dental health should consider appropriate decision and policy regarding this matter.