Survey of Iowa general dentists regarding the age 1 dental visit

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess Iowa general dentists regarding the age 1 dental visit. METHODS: A 15-item survey was mailed to 1,521 licensed dentists to address their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding the age 1 dental visit. Chi-square statistics and logistic regression models were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Seven hundred fifteen (47%) useable surveys were returned from 2 mailings. Five hundred forty (76%) general dentists were familiar with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) age 1 dental visit recommendation. Most reported obtaining this information through continuing education (37%). Eleven percent believed the first dental visit should occur between 0 and 11 months of age, and 66% reported seeing children younger than 2. "Prefer to refer infants to a pediatric dentist" (20%) was the most common reason for not seeing children 0 to 23 months old. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that dentists who believed children should have their first dental visit at 0 to 23 months and those willing to see children at age 0 to 23 months were younger, more recent graduates, more likely to be female, aware of the AAPD recommendations, and were already seeing children 0 to 23 months. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of Iowa general dentists are aware of the AAPD age 1 dental visit recommendation.