Does Dental Insurance Influence Treatment-seeking Behavior? A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Oral health is an integral component of overall well-being; however, access to dental services in India often relies on out-of-pocket expenditure. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and attitude toward dental insurance and trends in the utilization of dental services among insured and uninsured subjects visiting private clinics in West Godavari district. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 participants (150 insured – Employees’ State Insurance beneficiaries, 150 uninsured) recruited from private dental clinics using cluster and stratified random sampling. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, awareness, attitudes, and utilization were collected through face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Results: Awareness of social insurance schemes was higher among insured participants (73%) than uninsured (13%). Both the groups expressed positive attitudes toward dental insurance (80% insured vs. 77% uninsured). Utilization of dental services in the past year was greater among insured individuals (80%) compared with uninsured individuals (60%) (P ≤ 0.001). After adjustment, insured participants had more than twice the odds of utilizing dental services (adjusted odds ratio = 2.35; 95% confidence level: 1.30–4.20). Conclusion: Insured individuals demonstrated greater awareness and higher dental service utilization, though awareness levels remained generally low. While findings suggest that insurance coverage is associated with improved service use, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Broader insurance schemes and longitudinal research are recommended to confirm these associations.