[Determinants of access to dental health in Spain].

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzed the relationship between demographic and socioeconomic factors with access to dental services in Spanish adults.

DESIGN

Descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study. SITE: The 2023 Spanish Living Conditions Survey was used, with national coverage of the adult population.

PARTICIPANTS

27,227 households and 56,532 adults were included, of whom 48.0% were men and 52.0% were women between 18 and 85 years of age (by 2023), and an average age of 50 years.

INTERVENTIONS: Not required.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS: A logistic model was estimated to analyze the determinants of the probability of consulting a dentist when needed. The main variables considered were access to dental health, income, meeting with friends and/or family, general health status, participating in leisure activities, and spending money on oneself.

RESULTS

The results suggested that higher income, lack of social interaction, poor general health status, lack of participation in leisure activities and inability to spend money on oneself were the five main factors explaining the lack of access to dental care in Spain.

CONCLUSIONS

The results allow to conclude that access to dental health in Spain is strongly influenced by socioeconomic factors, such as income, social interaction and spending capacity, suggesting a need to address these inequalities to ensure equitable access to dental care for the entire population.