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Maine
Statistics on children, youth and families in Maine from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Maine Children's Alliance
Children that received preventive dental service by insurance type in Maine
Children that received preventive dental service by insurance type
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Why This Indicator Matters
Having routine preventative dental care in childhood reduces dental problems later in life. Dental disease can affect children’s overall health, self-confidence, school readiness and future employment success. Poor oral health in childhood contributes to serious and costly complications for health and economic stability later in life.
What the data shows
In 2021, 42% of children with MaineCare and 63% of children with commercial insurance had at least one preventative dental service during the calendar year. This is better than the pandemic year of 2020, but still lower rates than 2019 when 57% of children with MaineCare and 69% of children with commercial dental insurance had at least one preventative dental service. In 2021, 52,285 children with commercial insurance had a preventative dental service and 48,033 children with MaineCare did so.
Combining commercially insured and children with MaineCare, the highest rates of children with at least one preventative dental service in 2021 were in the counties of Cumberland, Kennebec and York with rates of 56%, 54% and 53% respectively. The counties with the lowest rates of preventative dental services among insured children with combined rates of commercial and MaineCare insurance in 2021 were Piscataquis, Washington and Hancock with rates of 43%, 45% and 46% respectively.
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What the data shows
In 2021, 42% of children with MaineCare and 63% of children with commercial insurance had at least one preventative dental service during the calendar year. This is better than the pandemic year of 2020, but still lower rates than 2019 when 57% of children with MaineCare and 69% of children with commercial dental insurance had at least one preventative dental service. In 2021, 52,285 children with commercial insurance had a preventative dental service and 48,033 children with MaineCare did so.
Combining commercially insured and children with MaineCare, the highest rates of children with at least one preventative dental service in 2021 were in the counties of Cumberland, Kennebec and York with rates of 56%, 54% and 53% respectively. The counties with the lowest rates of preventative dental services among insured children with combined rates of commercial and MaineCare insurance in 2021 were Piscataquis, Washington and Hancock with rates of 43%, 45% and 46% respectively.
Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
This measure shows the number and percent of children with Medicaid (called MaineCare in Maine) and with commercial dental insurance who had a preventative dental service during the calendar year.
The data comes from the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Dataset, and the numbers and percents reflect children (ages 0- 20) who had either MaineCare or commercial dental coverage for at least 11 months of the year, and who had at least one claim for a preventive dental service.
Data Source
The Children's Oral Health Network of Maine provided the analysis. The data comes from the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Dataset. Please refer to the MHDO website for more details regarding data restrictions and represented insurers.
Notes
Note that children without intermittent coverage less than 11 months of the year are not included. Total refers to all children who have either continuous Medicaid or continuous commercial insurance. Total does not mean all children in Maine.
Updated January 2023.
Updated January 2023.
Last Updated
January 2023