COVID-19 and access to subsidized dental care according to household income. A register-based population study from Norway.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine inequalities in access to subsidized dental care according to household income before, during and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Norway.  Material and methods: Our data encompassed all individuals aged 20 years and above (n = 3,977,747). The data were analyzed using a linear probability model. The outcome variable was whether an individual had received subsidized dental care, and the main independent variable was net household income. Analyses were carried out with and without the following control variables: gender, age (fixed effects), level of education, immigrant background and place of residence (fixed effects for county). Inequalities were measured using concentration indices.  Results: The proportion of adults who received subsidized dental care was 3.10% before lockdown, 0.47% during lockdown and 2.15% after lockdown. The concentration indices were small. The unstandardized concentration indices (without control variables included) were: 0.04 before, 0.002 during and 0.04 after lockdown. The standardized concentration indices (with control variables included) were: 0.02 before, -0.007 during and 0.02 after lockdown. We carried out several supplementary analyses. They all supported our main findings.

Conclusion: The lockdown did not lead to inequalities in access to subsidized dental care in Norway according to income.