Determinants of Demand for Dental Services at Household Level

Abstract

Background <br /> Dental health considered the primary requisites of life and the WHO emphasis on continuous improvement during the 21st Century. Best knowledge about the factors affecting household dental demand is essential for formulating a detailed and comprehensive oral and dental health plan. <br /> Methods <br /> Therefore, to the best understanding of demand determinants, literature published in English and Persian languages retrieved with a systematic review using the PRISMA protocol. Final citation critically appraisal by CASP and PRISMA checklists, and eventually, factors affecting dental services demand present in a narrative synthesis. <br /> Results <br /> At all 2016 articles retrieved. One thousand seven hundred eighty-six articles excluded from the study, and out of the 230 articles, full texts of 16 articles selected, and their contents assessed. The main determinants of dental services demand to classify into three groups of demographic, classic, and complementary factors. <br /> Conclusion <br /> It is necessary to consider the predisposing, enabling, and need factors for estimating household dental demand function. Identifying and explaining the affecting factors of a household dental services makes it possible to obtain an accurate empirical estimation of the demand function and, can analyze the behavior of consumers by calculating the elasticities. Policymaker's attention to these factors will lead to the harmonization of providing dental services under the expectations of households.