Rural-Urban Differences in Use of Dental Services and Procedures Among Medicare Beneficiaries in 2018.
Huabin LuoMark E MossRashmita BasuFord T GrantPublished in: Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974) (2022)
We found significant disparities in use of dental services by Medicare beneficiaries in rural communities. When Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas used dental care, they were less likely than beneficiaries in urban areas to have preventive procedures but more likely to have restorative procedures, suggesting a greater burden of oral health needs among them. Policy research is needed to identify models that can incentivize prevention and improve access to dental care for Medicare beneficiaries in rural communities.