Dental service use among Medicaid-eligible children

Dental service use among Medicaid eligible children by:

Children enrolled in Medicaid and other Minnesota Health Care Programs can receive dental services  

Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) is Minnesota’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program—a federal program required in every state to provide children enrolled in a Medicaid or public health insurance programs with yearly well-child care health and dental visits.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend at least one dental visit each year, starting by the child’s first birthday, when the first tooth appears, or whichever occurs first. Dental visits are important to maintain healthy gums and teeth, prevent dental disease, and identify any treatment needs.

Children eligible for Minnesota’s C&TC services include all children under the age of 21 enrolled in a Medicaid or Children Health Insurance (CHIP) expansion program (Medical Assistance) or MinnesotaCare (collectively called Minnesota Health Care Programs).

The following is based on data from the CMS-416 Report, which reports on children oral health measures such as dental service use among children:

  • Ages 1 to 20 years
  • Enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program (MHCP) for at least 90 consecutive days
  • By federal fiscal year (October 1 through September 30).

A dental service is any diagnostic, preventive, or treatment service provided by or under the supervision of a dentist. Data come from paid, unpaid and denied fee-for-service claims and encounter data reported to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. MHCP pays for any medically necessary dental services for children (Minnesota Statutes 2018, chapter 256B.0625, subd. 9). For more information: About the Child and Teen Checkups Program (CMS-416) Report.

 

More than one third of Medicaid eligible children receive at least one yearly dental service

3 out of every 10
C&TC eligible children (1 to 20 years)

 

(36.3%, 95% CI = 36.1 to 36.4; n =202,300 of 558,042)

Have at least one dental service
FFY 2020

During federal fiscal year 2020, 3 out of 10 Minnesota C&TC eligible children aged 1 to 20 years (36%) had at least one dental service. This is a significant decrease from the previous year (44%). The COVID-19 pandemic is likely playing a role in dental access.

Although not directly comparable, 76% of children in Minnesota aged 1 to 17 years had at least one dental visit in 2019-2020. This prevalence data comes from a web/mail-based survey of parents and guardians (see View Charts: Dental visits).


 

Dental service use among C&TC eligible children by age, federal fiscal year 2020

Roll over bars for more information
 
Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services. Child and Teen Checkups (CMS-416) Report.
Age group (years) Number of C&TC eligible children Number of C&TC eligible children with at least one dental service Percent C&TC eligible children dental service use within age groups (row percent) 95% Confidence Interval
Less than 1 23,469 94 0.4% 0.3 to 0.5
1 to 2 61,595 6,665 10.8% 10.6 to 11.1
3 to 5 93,445 32,587 34.9% 34.6 to 35.2
6 to 9 119,016 53,688 45.1% 44.8 to 45.4
10 to 14 143,687 61,742 43.0% 42.7 to 43.2
15 to 18 98,919 36,875 37.3% 37.0 to 37.6
19 to 20 41,380 10,743 26.0% 25.5 to 26.4

Data include Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) eligible children enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program for at least 90-continuous days during the federal fiscal year (FFY) (October 1 through September 30). Total eligible children (1 to 20 years) enrolled during FFY 2020 = 558,042. This chart represents percent dental service use within age groups (row percentages). See About the Child and Teen Checkups Program (CMS-416) Report data for more information.

 

Among C&TC eligible children who received a dental service during federal fiscal year 2020, the majority were between the ages of 3 to 20 years. Less than half of all age groups received the recommended yearly dental visit. Most notable, are the very low proportion of 0 to 2 year olds and 19 to 20 year olds who received at least one dental service.


 

Dental service use among C&TC eligible children by race and ethnicity, federal fiscal year 2020

Roll over bars for more information
 
Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services. Child and Teen Checkups (CMS-416) Report.
Race and ethnicity Number of C&TC eligible children
(1 to 20 years)
Number of C&TC eligible children
(1 to 20 years) with
at least one dental service
Percent C&TC
eligible children
(1 to 20 years)
with at least one
dental service within race and ethnicity groups
(row percent)
95% Confidence Interval
Hispanic/Latino 61,722 24,458 39.60% 39.2 to 40.0
American Indian/Alaska Native 14,772 5,591 37.80% 37.1 to 38.6
Asian or Pacific Islander 168,074 62,067 36.90% 36.1 to 37.7
African American or Black 26,723 9,481 35.50% 34.9 to 36.1
White 73,572 25,975 35.30% 35.0 to 35.7
Two or more races 24,675 8,502 34.50% 33.9 to 35.0

Data include Child and Teen Checkups eligible children enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program for at least 90-continuous days during the federal fiscal year (FFY) (October 1 through September 30). Total eligible children (1 to 20 years) enrolled during FFY 2020 with a known single race and ethnicity or two or more races = 369,538. Unknown or missing race and ethnicity (not shown in this chart) = 66,226 with at least one dental service out of 188,504 eligible. Two or more races = any combination of two or more single race and ethnicity. This chart represents percent dental service use across race and ethnicity groups (row percentages). See About the Child and Teen Checkups Program (CMS-416) Report data for more information.

 

 

During federal fiscal year 2020, Hispanic/Latino children used more dental services than other racial/ethnic groups.


 

C&TC eligible children (1 to 20 years) dental service use, federal fiscal year 2020

County map image Child $amp; Teen Checkup Eligible Children (1 to20 years) Dental Treatment Service Use and link to PDF of the same
   

Child and Teen Checkups eligible children include all children enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program (Medical Assistance or Medicaid, MNCare) for at least 90-continuous days during the federal fiscal year (FFY) (Oct. 1 through Sept. 30). Total eligible children (1 to 20 years) enrolled during FFY 2020 = 558,042. See About the Child and Teen Checkups Program (CMS-416) Report data for more information.

Cook County C&TC eligible children (49%) had the highest dental service use and Pipestone County C&TC eligible children (22%) had the lowest dental service use of all counties. Some counties were significantly different from the statewide rate.