STATISTICAL BRIEF #537: Trends in the Number and Percentage of the Population
with Any Dental or Medical Visits, 2003-2018
October 2021
Richard Manski, DDS, MBA, PhD, Frederick Rohde, MA, and Timothy Ricks, DMD, MPH, FICD
Highlights
About 37 percent of Americans (121.2 million in 2018) visited a
dentist and a physician at least once a year, and another 9 percent
(28.2 million in 2018) visited only a dentist.
The percentage visiting both a physician and a dentist in 2018 was
higher among persons who are non-Hispanic White (43.7 percent)
compared to those who are Hispanic (26.2 percent) or non-Hispanic
Black (25.8 percent).
Persons who are non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic other, male, aged
6 to 64, and living in the West and Midwest are more likely to visit a
dentist only.
Introduction
In 2000, the first-ever Surgeon General's Report on oral health was
released. Oral Health in America provided numerous examples of the
connection between oral health and overall health, concluding that "oral
health means much more than healthy teeth" and "is essential to the general
health and well-being of all Americans."[1] Since the publication of that report,
there has been a concerted effort to better integrate oral health and overall
health across the country. Full integration is multidirectional, incorporating
oral health into different aspects of overall health (medical care, behavioral
health, pharmacy care, etc.) and incorporating overall health concepts into
dental practices. For example, the American Dental Association, the nation's
largest dentist organization, has estimated that healthcare costs in the
United States could be reduced by over $100 million each year through
screening for chronic diseases in dental offices.[2]
To provide a foundation for multidirectional integration of oral health and
overall health, we examined the number and percentage of persons with any
dental and medical visits using 2003 to 2018 data from the Medical
Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component. A dental visit included any
reported visit in the year to any type of dental provider, including general
dentists, specialists, hygienists, and technicians. A medical visit included any
reported visit in the year to any type of physician or nonphysician provider in
an office-based, inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, or home health
setting.
[1]
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon
General. 2000. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD.
[2] American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute.
Screening for Chronic Diseases in the Dental Office. 2018. Accessed August 16, 2021, at https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science percent20and
percent20Research/HPI/Files/ADA_HPI_DentalOfcScreening.pdf?la=en.
Findings
All differences between estimates discussed in the text are statistically
significant at the 0.05 level or better unless otherwise noted.
U.S. medical and dental visits (tables 1-2, figure 1)
As shown in table 1 and figure 1, 121.2 million Americans had both a
medical and dental visit in 2018, an 18 percent increase from 2003. Though
this increase was driven mostly by population growth, more Americans than
ever before reported visiting only a dental provider in the past year (28.2
million, up 11 percent from 2003) or having neither visited a medical nor a
dental provider in the past year (64.7 million, up 18 percent from 2003).
As seen in table 2 and figure 1, the percentage of Americans exclusively
visiting medical providers and not dental providers decreased in 2018 to its
lowest point in two decades, with only 34.4 percent (down from 37.0 percent
in 2003) visiting just a medical provider in 2018. The percentage of people
with just a dental visit did not change significantly from 2003 to 2018,
however, at around 8.6 percent. But the overall percentage of Americans
with a dental visit, including those with a medical visit, rose from 44.0
percent in 2003 to 45.7 percent in 2018.
Medical and dental visits by race/ethnicity (table 2, figure 2)
As seen in table 2 and figure 2, significant disparities exist between
racial/ethnic groups in healthcare utilization. Among persons who are non-Hispanic White, 43.7 percent visited both a medical and dental provider in
2018, compared to just 26.2 percent of those who are Hispanic and 25.8
percent of those who are non-Hispanic Black. Similarly, more Hispanics
(31.0 percent) had neither a dental nor medical visit in 2018, compared to
non-Hispanic Blacks (25.3 percent) and non-Hispanic Whites (14.6 percent).
More non-Hispanic Blacks (40.7 percent) had only a medical visit in 2018,
compared to Hispanics (34.5 percent) and non-Hispanic Whites (33.1
percent).
Medical and dental visits by age (tables 1-2, figure 2)
Healthcare visits by children and adolescents ages 0 to 5 and ages 6 to 17
years increased from 2003 to 2018. The percentage with visits to both a
medical and dental provider increased from 20.1 percent to 29.0 percent
and from 42.2 percent to 46.3 percent for the two age groups, respectively.
The percentage with only medical visits dropped from 66.1 percent in 2003
to 54.6 percent in 2018 for children ages 0 to 5.
Among adults 65 years and older, 27.9 million had a dental visit in 2018, up
from 15.4 million in 2003. The overall percentage of Americans 65 years of
age and older with a dental visit increased from 42.0 percent in 2003 to 51.0
percent in 2018, while the percentage of those having a dental visit only but
not a medical visit remained steady at 1.6 percent.
Medical and dental visits by region (table 2, figure 2)
Disparities in dental utilization were also based on geographic location. Only
41.5 percent of Americans in the South had a dental visit in 2018, compared
to 47.5 percent in the Northeast, 49.9 percent in the Midwest, and 47.8
percent in the West. However, people living in the West (10.2 percent) were
most likely to have had a dental visit but not a medical visit compared to
those in the Northeast (7.6 percent). People living in the South (21.9
percent) and West (21.7 percent) were most likely to have neither a medical
nor a dental visit in 2018 compared to those in the Northeast (17.2 percent)
and Midwest (16.0 percent).
Data Source
This Statistical Brief uses data from the following public use data files:
Data Files
2003
2006
2009
2012
2015
2018
Full-Year Consolidated
HC-79
HC-105
HC-129
HC-155
HC-181
HC-209
Dental events
HC-77B
HC-102B
HC-126B
HC-152B
HC-178B
HC-206B
Inpatient events
HC-77D
HC-102D
HC-126D
HC-152D
HC-178D
HC-206D
Emergency room events
HC-77E
HC-102E
HC-126E
HC-152E
HC-178E
HC-206E
Outpatient events
HC-77F
HC-102F
HC-126F
HC-152F
HC-178F
HC-206F
Office-based events
HC-77G
HC-102G
HC-126G
HC-152G
HC-178G
HC-206G
Home health events
HC-77H
HC-102H
HC-126H
HC-152H
HC-178H
HC-206H
Definitions
Dental visits
A dental visit is an in-person visit to any type of dental provider, including
general dentists and specialists such as periodontists, as well as non-dentists
such as hygienists and technicians.
Medical visits
A medical visit is an in-person visit to any type of medical provider, including
physicians (medical doctors) and non-physicians (e.g., nurses, technicians)
in an office-based, inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, or home health
setting.
Race/ethnicity
Classification by race/ethnicity was based on information reported for each
family member. First, respondents were asked if the person's main national
origin or ancestry was Puerto Rican; Cuban; Mexican, Mexican American, or
Chicano; other Latin American; or other Spanish. All persons whose main
national origin or ancestry was reported in one of these Hispanic groups,
regardless of racial background, were classified as Hispanic. All other
persons were classified according to their reported race. For this analysis,
the following classification by race and ethnicity was used: Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic other. The other
category includes American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander,
other race, and multiple races.
Age
The age variable is based on the sample person's age as of the end of the
year. If data were not collected during a round because the sample person
was out of scope (e.g., deceased or institutionalized), then age at the time
of the previous round was used.
Census region
The Census region variable is based on the location of the household at the
end of the year. If missing, the most recent location available is used.
Region
Included States
Northeast
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont
Midwest
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
South
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
West
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,
New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming
About MEPS-HC
The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component
(MEPS-HC) collects nationally representative data on healthcare
use, expenditures, sources of payment, and insurance coverage
for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. The
MEPS-HC is cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS). More information about the MEPS-HC can be found
on the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) website at
https://www.meps.ahrq.gov/.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A
Report of the Surgeon General. 2000. U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National
Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD.
Suggested Citation
Manski, R., Rohde, F., and Ricks, T. Trends in the Number and Percentage of
the Population with Any Dental or Medical Visits, 2003-2018. Statistical Brief
#537. October 2021. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
https://meps.ahrq.gov/data_files/publications/st537/stat537.shtml
* * *
AHRQ welcomes questions and comments from readers of this
publication who are interested in obtaining more information
about access, cost, use, financing, and quality of healthcare
in the United States. We also invite you to tell us how you are
using this Statistical Brief and other MEPS data and tools and
to share suggestions on how MEPS products might be enhanced to
further meet your needs. Please email us at
MEPSProjectDirector@ahrq.hhs.gov
or send a letter to the address below:
Joel W. Cohen, PhD, Director
Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
5600 Fishers Lane, Mailstop 07W41A
Rockville, MD 20857
Table 1. Population with any dental or medical visits
Demographic
Total population (millions)*
Visit category^
2003
2006
2009
2012
2015
2018
All persons
Dental and medical
102.6 (2.6)
102.8 (3.0)
104.5 (2.9)
104.7 (3.1)
109.6 (3.4)
121.2 (3.5)
Dental only
25.4 (0.9)
26.2 (0.9)
24.9 (0.9)
25.2 (0.9)
28.2 (1.1)
28.2 (1.0)
Medical only
107.6 (2.5)
110.0 (2.8)
114.4 (2.7)
119.5 (2.6)
119.3 (3.1)
112.3 (2.7)
Neither dental nor medical
55.0 (1.7)
60.2 (2.0)
62.9 (1.9)
64.1 (1.9)
64.3 (2.0)
64.7 (1.9)
Race/ethnicity
Hispanic, any race
Dental and medical
8.1 (0.5)
8.7 (0.5)
10.2 (0.7)
11.8 (0.8)
14.0 (0.9)
15.8 (0.9)
Dental only
3.0 (0.2)
3.3 (0.2)
3.5 (0.2)
4.2 (0.3)
4.9 (0.3)
5.0 (0.4)
Medical only
16.2 (0.9)
18.0 (1.0)
19.2 (1.3)
21.1 (1.5)
21.3 (1.3)
20.8 (1.2)
Neither dental nor medical
13.4 (0.8)
15.2 (1.0)
16.2 (1.2)
16.3 (1.1)
16.8 (1.3)
18.7 (1.1)
Non-Hispanic White
Dental and medical
81.3 (2.4)
79.9 (2.6)
79.6 (2.7)
77.4 (2.9)
77.2 (2.9)
85.1 (3.0)
Dental only
18.1 (0.8)
18.0 (0.7)
16.3 (0.7)
15.9 (0.8)
17.2 (1.0)
16.7 (0.8)
Medical only
69.1 (1.9)
69.1 (2.0)
71.6 (2.2)
73.2 (2.2)
69.4 (2.3)
64.5 (2.1)
Neither dental nor medical
27.7 (1.0)
30.0 (1.1)
31.4 (1.2)
31.4 (1.3)
30.2 (1.4)
28.4 (1.3)
Non-Hispanic Black
Dental and medical
7.7 (0.5)
8.2 (0.5)
8.5 (0.5)
8.7 (0.5)
9.0 (0.5)
10.3 (0.7)
Dental only
2.4 (0.2)
2.9 (0.3)
2.6 (0.3)
2.7 (0.2)
2.9 (0.2)
3.3 (0.3)
Medical only
15.9 (0.8)
15.7 (0.9)
15.8 (0.9)
16.5 (1.0)
17.2 (1.0)
16.3 (0.9)
Neither dental nor medical
9.2 (0.6)
9.4 (0.6)
9.9 (0.7)
10.0 (0.6)
10.4 (0.6)
10.1 (0.6)
Non-Hispanic other
Dental and medical
5.4 (0.4)
6.0 (0.5)
6.1 (0.6)
6.8 (0.5)
9.3 (0.8)
10.0 (0.7)
Dental only
1.9 (0.2)
2.0 (0.3)
2.5 (0.2)
2.3 (0.2)
3.2 (0.3)
3.2 (0.3)
Medical only
6.4 (0.5)
7.2 (0.6)
7.7 (0.6)
8.7 (0.7)
11.4 (1.0)
10.6 (0.6)
Neither dental nor medical
4.7 (0.4)
5.5 (0.6)
5.4 (0.4)
6.3 (0.6)
6.8 (0.6)
7.5 (0.5)
Sex
Male
Dental and medical
43.0 (1.2)
43.9 (1.4)
44.4 (1.3)
44.9 (1.6)
47.6 (1.7)
53.2 (1.6)
Dental only
14.4 (0.6)
14.8 (0.6)
13.9 (0.5)
13.9 (0.6)
15.3 (0.7)
15.4 (0.7)
Medical only
50.0 (1.3)
51.3 (1.4)
53.5 (1.4)
55.3 (1.3)
55.4 (1.5)
52.7 (1.4)
Neither dental nor medical
34.9 (1.1)
37.0 (1.3)
38.7 (1.2)
39.1 (1.2)
38.9 (1.2)
38.4 (1.2)
Female
Dental and medical
59.6 (1.5)
58.9 (1.8)
60.0 (1.8)
59.8 (1.7)
62.0 (1.9)
68.0 (2.1)
Dental only
11.0 (0.5)
11.5 (0.5)
11.0 (0.5)
11.3 (0.5)
13.0 (0.6)
12.8 (0.5)
Medical only
57.6 (1.4)
58.7 (1.6)
60.8 (1.5)
64.2 (1.6)
63.9 (1.8)
59.6 (1.5)
Neither dental nor medical
20.1 (0.8)
23.2 (0.9)
24.2 (0.8)
25.0 (0.8)
25.4 (1.0)
26.2 (0.9)
Age group
0-5
Dental and medical
4.6 (0.3)
5.3 (0.4)
5.9 (0.4)
5.2 (0.3)
6.3 (0.4)
6.8 (0.4)
Dental only
0.8 (0.1)
0.8 (0.1)
0.7 (0.1)
1.0 (0.1)
0.7 (0.1)
1.1 (0.2)
Medical only
15.3 (0.6)
15.1 (0.6)
15.7 (0.6)
14.9 (0.6)
14.4 (0.7)
12.9 (0.6)
Neither dental nor medical
2.4 (0.2)
3.1 (0.2)
3.5 (0.2)
3.0 (0.2)
2.6 (0.2)
2.7 (0.2)
6-17
Dental and medical
21.0 (0.8)
20.2 (0.8)
20.7 (0.9)
21.5 (1.0)
21.2 (1.0)
23.2 (1.0)
Dental only
7.2 (0.4)
8.2 (0.4)
6.5 (0.4)
7.4 (0.4)
8.4 (0.5)
7.0 (0.4)
Medical only
12.4 (0.5)
11.4 (0.5)
12.4 (0.5)
12.0 (0.6)
11.8 (0.5)
11.5 (0.7)
Neither dental nor medical
9.2 (0.5)
9.8 (0.5)
9.3 (0.4)
9.0 (0.5)
8.7 (0.5)
8.4 (0.4)
18-64
Dental and medical
62.1 (1.7)
61.3 (1.9)
60.7 (1.9)
58.8 (1.9)
60.0 (2.1)
64.2 (2.1)
Dental only
16.8 (0.6)
16.5 (0.6)
16.9 (0.6)
16.0 (0.6)
18.1 (0.8)
19.2 (0.8)
Medical only
60.9 (1.6)
64.3 (1.7)
66.5 (1.8)
70.3 (1.7)
69.7 (1.9)
64.6 (1.7)
Neither dental nor medical
41.1 (1.2)
45.0 (1.5)
47.3 (1.5)
49.2 (1.5)
49.9 (1.6)
50.1 (1.5)
65+
Dental and medical
14.8 (0.8)
15.9 (0.7)
17.1 (0.8)
19.2 (1.0)
22.1 (1.0)
27.0 (0.9)
Dental only
0.6 (0.1)
0.7 (0.1)
0.8 (0.1)
0.8 (0.1)
1.1 (0.1)
0.9 (0.1)
Medical only
18.9 (0.7)
19.2 (0.7)
19.7 (0.7)
22.3 (0.8)
23.3 (0.9)
23.3 (0.8)
Neither dental nor medical
2.4 (0.2)
2.3 (0.2)
2.8 (0.2)
3.0 (0.2)
3.1 (0.3)
3.5 (0.2)
Region
Northeast
Dental and medical
22.1 (1.1)
21.8 (1.3)
21.3 (1.6)
20.4 (1.4)
21.5 (1.6)
22.2 (1.6)
Dental only
4.0 (0.4)
4.5 (0.3)
3.5 (0.3)
3.5 (0.3)
4.2 (0.4)
4.2 (0.4)
Medical only
19.5 (1.0)
19.9 (1.1)
20.6 (1.1)
21.5 (1.1)
20.7 (1.0)
19.6 (1.1)
Neither dental nor medical
8.4 (0.5)
8.5 (0.6)
9.8 (0.7)
10.3 (0.6)
10.1 (0.7)
9.6 (0.8)
Midwest
Dental and medical
25.6 (1.5)
25.3 (1.5)
25.3 (1.3)
25.7 (1.6)
26.0 (1.8)
27.8 (1.2)
Dental only
6.2 (0.4)
6.2 (0.5)
6.1 (0.4)
6.0 (0.4)
6.3 (0.5)
6.2 (0.4)
Medical only
23.0 (1.2)
23.4 (1.3)
23.6 (0.9)
24.3 (0.9)
23.7 (1.2)
23.3 (1.2)
Neither dental nor medical
10.6 (0.7)
11.0 (0.8)
12.0 (0.8)
10.9 (0.7)
11.8 (0.6)
10.9 (0.7)
South
Dental and medical
32.3 (1.3)
33.2 (1.7)
34.6 (1.4)
34.6 (1.8)
36.2 (1.7)
41.9 (1.9)
Dental only
8.1 (0.5)
8.2 (0.5)
8.0 (0.5)
8.2 (0.5)
9.3 (0.6)
9.9 (0.5)
Medical only
42.2 (1.5)
43.4 (1.8)
45.6 (1.6)
48.6 (1.6)
49.1 (2.2)
45.5 (1.7)
Neither dental nor medical
21.7 (1.1)
24.2 (1.4)
24.7 (1.1)
25.6 (1.1)
26.4 (1.4)
27.3 (1.1)
West
Dental and medical
22.5 (1.2)
22.4 (1.4)
23.3 (1.2)
24.0 (1.1)
25.9 (1.3)
29.3 (2.1)
Dental only
7.1 (0.5)
7.3 (0.5)
7.4 (0.5)
7.5 (0.4)
8.4 (0.7)
7.9 (0.7)
Medical only
22.8 (1.3)
23.3 (1.3)
24.6 (1.3)
25.1 (1.0)
25.8 (1.2)
23.8 (1.3)
Neither dental nor medical
14.3 (1.0)
16.5 (1.0)
16.4 (0.8)
17.3 (1.0)
16.0 (1.0)
16.9 (1.0)
* Standard errors for estimates appear in parentheses.
^ Dental includes any visit to any type of dental provider. Medical includes any visit to any
office-based, outpatient, inpatient, emergency room or home health provider.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for Financing, Access and Cost
Trends, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Household Component, 2003-2018.
Table 2. Percentage of population with any dental or medical visits
Demographic
Percentage of population*
Visit category^
2003
2006
2009
2012
2015
2018
All persons
Dental and medical
35.3 (0.5)
34.3 (0.5)
34.1 (0.6)
33.4 (0.6)
34.1 (0.6)
37.1 (0.6)
Dental only
8.7 (0.2)
8.8 (0.2)
8.1 (0.2)
8.0 (0.2)
8.8 (0.3)
8.6 (0.2)
Medical only
37.0 (0.4)
36.8 (0.4)
37.3 (0.4)
38.1 (0.5)
37.1 (0.5)
34.4 (0.4)
Neither dental nor medical
18.9 (0.4)
20.1 (0.4)
20.5 (0.4)
20.4 (0.4)
20.0 (0.4)
19.8 (0.4)
Race/ethnicity
Hispanic, any race
Dental and medical
20.0 (0.8)
19.2 (0.7)
20.7 (0.7)
22.1 (0.7)
24.6 (0.8)
26.2 (0.9)
Dental only
7.3 (0.4)
7.3 (0.4)
7.1 (0.4)
7.9 (0.4)
8.6 (0.4)
8.3 (0.5)
Medical only
39.8 (0.9)
39.8 (0.8)
39.1 (0.8)
39.4 (0.7)
37.4 (0.7)
34.5 (0.9)
Neither dental nor medical
33.0 (0.9)
33.8 (0.9)
33.0 (0.9)
30.5 (0.8)
29.5 (0.9)
31.0 (0.8)
Non-Hispanic White
Dental and medical
41.4 (0.7)
40.5 (0.6)
40.0 (0.7)
39.1 (0.7)
39.8 (0.8)
43.7 (0.8)
Dental only
9.2 (0.3)
9.1 (0.3)
8.2 (0.3)
8.0 (0.3)
8.9 (0.4)
8.6 (0.3)
Medical only
35.2 (0.6)
35.1 (0.5)
36.0 (0.6)
37.0 (0.6)
35.8 (0.7)
33.1 (0.6)
Neither dental nor medical
14.1 (0.4)
15.2 (0.3)
15.8 (0.5)
15.9 (0.5)
15.6 (0.5)
14.6 (0.5)
Non-Hispanic Black
Dental and medical
21.9 (0.9)
22.7 (0.8)
23.0 (0.9)
23.0 (0.9)
22.8 (0.8)
25.8 (1.0)
Dental only
6.9 (0.5)
8.0 (0.6)
7.1 (0.5)
7.2 (0.4)
7.4 (0.4)
8.3 (0.7)
Medical only
45.0 (0.8)
43.3 (0.9)
42.9 (0.8)
43.5 (1.0)
43.4 (0.8)
40.7 (1.2)
Neither dental nor medical
26.2 (1.0)
26.0 (0.8)
26.9 (0.8)
26.3 (0.8)
26.4 (0.9)
25.3 (1.1)
Non-Hispanic other
Dental and medical
29.4 (1.5)
28.9 (1.4)
28.4 (1.3)
28.2 (1.4)
30.2 (1.2)
31.9 (1.5)
Dental only
10.4 (0.9)
9.6 (1.0)
11.5 (0.8)
9.7 (0.8)
10.5 (0.7)
10.2 (0.7)
Medical only
34.7 (1.4)
34.9 (1.6)
35.4 (1.3)
35.8 (1.2)
37.1 (1.1)
33.9 (1.5)
Neither dental nor medical
25.4 (1.3)
26.6 (1.8)
24.7 (1.2)
26.3 (1.3)
22.2 (1.1)
23.9 (1.1)
Sex
Male
Dental and medical
30.2 (0.6)
29.9 (0.5)
29.5 (0.6)
29.3 (0.7)
30.3 (0.7)
33.3 (0.6)
Dental only
10.1 (0.3)
10.0 (0.3)
9.3 (0.3)
9.1 (0.3)
9.7 (0.3)
9.6 (0.4)
Medical only
35.1 (0.5)
34.9 (0.5)
35.6 (0.5)
36.1 (0.6)
35.3 (0.6)
33.0 (0.5)
Neither dental nor medical
24.5 (0.5)
25.2 (0.5)
25.7 (0.5)
25.5 (0.5)
24.8 (0.5)
24.1 (0.5)
Female
Dental and medical
40.2 (0.6)
38.7 (0.6)
38.5 (0.7)
37.3 (0.6)
37.8 (0.7)
40.8 (0.7)
Dental only
7.4 (0.3)
7.5 (0.3)
7.1 (0.3)
7.0 (0.3)
7.9 (0.3)
7.7 (0.3)
Medical only
38.8 (0.5)
38.5 (0.5)
39.0 (0.6)
40.1 (0.6)
38.9 (0.6)
35.7 (0.6)
Neither dental nor medical
13.6 (0.4)
15.2 (0.4)
15.5 (0.4)
15.6 (0.4)
15.5 (0.5)
15.8 (0.4)
Age group
0-5
Dental and medical
20.1 (1.0)
21.9 (1.1)
23.0 (1.1)
21.5 (1.1)
26.1 (1.4)
29.0 (1.3)
Dental only
3.5 (0.4)
3.5 (0.5)
2.9 (0.4)
4.1 (0.5)
3.0 (0.4)
4.8 (0.7)
Medical only
66.1 (1.1)
61.8 (1.3)
60.7 (1.2)
62.1 (1.2)
60.1 (1.5)
54.6 (1.2)
Neither dental nor medical
10.3 (0.7)
12.8 (0.8)
13.4 (0.8)
12.3 (0.9)
10.8 (0.9)
11.5 (0.9)
6-17
Dental and medical
42.2 (0.9)
40.7 (1.1)
42.3 (1.1)
43.2 (1.1)
42.3 (1.1)
46.3 (1.3)
Dental only
14.4 (0.6)
16.5 (0.6)
13.3 (0.7)
14.8 (0.6)
16.8 (0.8)
14.0 (0.8)
Medical only
24.9 (0.8)
23.0 (0.7)
25.3 (0.9)
24.0 (0.9)
23.6 (1.0)
22.9 (1.0)
Neither dental nor medical
18.5 (0.7)
19.7 (0.7)
19.1 (0.7)
18.0 (0.9)
17.3 (0.8)
16.8 (0.7)
18-64
Dental and medical
34.3 (0.6)
32.8 (0.6)
31.7 (0.7)
30.3 (0.6)
30.4 (0.7)
32.4 (0.6)
Dental only
9.3 (0.3)
8.8 (0.3)
8.8 (0.3)
8.2 (0.3)
9.1 (0.3)
9.7 (0.3)
Medical only
33.7 (0.5)
34.4 (0.5)
34.7 (0.5)
36.2 (0.5)
35.2 (0.5)
32.6 (0.5)
Neither dental nor medical
22.7 (0.4)
24.1 (0.5)
24.7 (0.5)
25.3 (0.5)
25.3 (0.6)
25.3 (0.5)
65+
Dental and medical
40.3 (1.3)
41.8 (1.1)
42.3 (1.1)
42.3 (1.3)
44.6 (1.2)
49.4 (1.0)
Dental only
1.7 (0.2)
1.8 (0.3)
1.9 (0.3)
1.8 (0.3)
2.2 (0.3)
1.6 (0.2)
Medical only
51.5 (1.1)
50.5 (1.1)
49.0 (1.0)
49.2 (1.2)
47.1 (1.2)
42.7 (0.9)
Neither dental nor medical
6.5 (0.5)
6.0 (0.4)
6.9 (0.5)
6.7 (0.5)
6.2 (0.5)
6.4 (0.4)
Region
Northeast
Dental and medical
41.0 (1.4)
39.9 (1.2)
38.6 (1.7)
36.7 (1.5)
38.1 (1.4)
39.9 (1.3)
Dental only
7.5 (0.6)
8.2 (0.5)
6.3 (0.5)
6.2 (0.4)
7.4 (0.7)
7.6 (0.5)
Medical only
36.1 (1.2)
36.4 (1.2)
37.3 (1.2)
38.6 (1.1)
36.6 (1.1)
35.3 (1.0)
Neither dental nor medical
15.5 (0.7)
15.4 (0.8)
17.8 (1.0)
18.5 (0.9)
17.9 (1.0)
17.2 (0.8)
Midwest
Dental and medical
39.1 (1.1)
38.4 (0.9)
37.8 (1.3)
38.4 (1.3)
38.3 (1.5)
40.8 (1.1)
Dental only
9.4 (0.4)
9.4 (0.4)
9.0 (0.5)
9.0 (0.5)
9.3 (0.6)
9.1 (0.5)
Medical only
35.2 (0.9)
35.5 (0.9)
35.3 (0.9)
36.4 (1.0)
35.0 (1.2)
34.2 (1.0)
Neither dental nor medical
16.2 (0.8)
16.7 (0.6)
17.9 (0.9)
16.3 (0.8)
17.5 (0.7)
16.0 (0.7)
South
Dental and medical
31.0 (0.8)
30.4 (0.9)
30.7 (0.8)
29.6 (0.9)
29.9 (0.8)
33.6 (1.0)
Dental only
7.8 (0.4)
7.6 (0.3)
7.1 (0.4)
7.0 (0.4)
7.7 (0.4)
7.9 (0.4)
Medical only
40.4 (0.7)
39.8 (0.8)
40.4 (0.7)
41.6 (0.8)
40.6 (0.6)
36.5 (0.7)
Neither dental nor medical
20.8 (0.7)
22.2 (0.7)
21.9 (0.6)
21.8 (0.7)
21.8 (0.8)
21.9 (0.7)
West
Dental and medical
33.7 (0.9)
32.3 (1.0)
32.5 (1.0)
32.5 (0.9)
34.0 (1.2)
37.6 (1.3)
Dental only
10.6 (0.6)
10.5 (0.5)
10.4 (0.5)
10.1 (0.4)
11.1 (0.6)
10.2 (0.5)
Medical only
34.2 (0.8)
33.5 (0.7)
34.3 (0.9)
33.9 (0.7)
33.9 (1.1)
30.5 (0.8)
Neither dental nor medical
21.4 (0.7)
23.8 (0.9)
22.9 (0.6)
23.5 (0.9)
21.0 (0.7)
21.7 (1.0)
* Standard errors for estimates appear in parentheses.
^ Dental includes any visit to any type of dental provider. Medical includes any visit to any
office-based, outpatient, inpatient, emergency room or home health provider.
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for Financing, Access and Cost
Trends, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Household Component, 2003-2018.
Figure 1. Population with any dental and medical visits
Provider Visit Category
2003
2006
2009
2012
2015
2018
In Millions
Dental and medical
102.6
102.8
104.5
104.7
109.6
121.2
Dental only
25.4
26.2
24.9
25.2
28.2
28.2
Medical only
107.6
110.0
114.4
119.5
119.3
112.3
Neither dental nor medical
55.0
60.2
62.9
64.1
64.3
64.7
Percentages
Dental and medical
35.3
34.3
34.1
33.4
34.1
37.1
Dental only
8.7
8.8
8.1
8.0
8.8
8.6
Medical only
37.0
36.8
37.3
38.1
37.1
34.4
Neither dental nor medical
18.9
20.1
20.5
20.4
20.0
19.8
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center
for Financing, Access and Cost Trends, Medical Expenditure
Panel Survey, Household Component, 2003 and 2018.
Figure 2. Percentage with only dental visits by demographic
Demographic
2003
2006
2009
2012
2015
2018
Race/ethnicity
Hispanic, any race
7.3
7.3
7.1
7.9
8.6
8.3
Non-Hispanic White
9.2
9.1
8.2
8.0
8.9
8.6
Non-Hispanic Black
6.9
8.0
7.1
7.2
7.4
8.3
Non-Hispanic other
10.4
9.6
11.5
9.7
10.5
10.2
Sex
Male
10.1
10.0
9.3
9.1
9.7
9.6
Female
7.4
7.5
7.1
7.0
7.9
7.7
Age group
0-5
3.5
3.5
2.9
4.1
3.0
4.8
6-17
14.4
16.5
13.3
14.8
16.8
14.0
18-64
9.3
8.8
8.8
8.2
9.1
9.7
65+
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.8
2.2
1.6
Region
Northeast
7.5
8.2
6.3
6.2
7.4
7.6
Midwest
9.4
9.4
9.0
9.0
9.3
9.1
South
7.8
7.6
7.1
7.0
7.7
7.9
West
10.6
10.5
10.4
10.1
11.1
10.2
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center
for Financing, Access and Cost Trends, Medical Expenditure
Panel Survey, Household Component, 2003 and 2018.
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