PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Vol. 29 No. 3       MAY - JUN 2007

ISSN: 0164-1263      UBIC: ESP

ABSTRACTS

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) investigate the demographic characteristics of pediatric dental practice sites in the United States; and (2) develop a model that identifies practice site characteristics commonly associated with pediatric dental practices. Methods: Demographic data and pediatric dental practices were organized by zip codes and analyzed using discriminant analysis. The demographic characteristics associated with zip codes that contained a pediatric dental practice were determined. Results: The resulting model correctly classified 92% of the 30,134 zip code areas, based upon the presence or absence of a pediatric dental practice. The variables most closely associated with a zip code containing a pediatric dental practice included: (1) number of dental practices (general practice); (2) percent of the adult population with a college degree; and (3) population size. Conclusions: Demographic characteristics are predictive of sites with or without a pediatric dental practice. Zip codes with large, urban populations that have positive socioeconomic characteristics, such as high income and education levels, are the mast likely to have a pediatric dental practice. There are a significant number of zip codes in the United States (1,712) that have the demographic characteristics associated with a pediatric dental practice site but do not have a pediatric dentist in them. (Pediatr Dent 2007;29:214-9) KEYWORDS: PRACTICE SITE LOCATION, DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, PEDIATRIC DENTAL PRACTICES.

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