Dental insurance and equity of access to dental services.

The first-year consequences of national dental insurance, introduced in Sweden in 1974, are examined here from the point of view of social justice. The concept of equity of access in medical care is discussed. In a local survey, a comparison is made between use of dental services in 1972, 1973, and 1974. The results indicate that the fewer people visited the dentist after the implementation of the insurance than before. Other evidence supports this conclusion. People traditionally considered to be underprivileged as to dental care were compared with other people. One underprivileged group, edentulous persons, received more treatment after the insurance was instituted than before.