The financing and delivery of dental care: A nationwide survey of dentists

The author surveyed a nationwide, stratified random sample of 560 dentists to ascertain their attitudes toward financing and delivery issues in dentistry. Women, younger and older dentists and nonmembers of the ADA tended to favor changing the current system of dental care delivery and financing. Respondents involved in public health and academia were most in favor of changes, followed by general practitioners, while specialists were least in favor of any change. Respondents with a higher percentage of patients receiving public medical benefits were significantly more in favor of changing the current system. The survey indicates that dentists' attitudes on these issues differ significantly.