California Denti-Cal Coverage and Periodontal Maintenance Compliance in a Dental School Patient Population: A Retrospective Study

Background Financial burden associated with supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) is a significant hindrance toward compliance. In 2018, the California Department of Health Care Services included SPT as a new fully covered benefit in their dental program (Denti-Cal). The objectives of this retrospective study were to elucidate the impact of DentiCal advantage on periodontal health and compliance with SPT.Methods Records of patients (2018–2019) receiving care at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry were surveyed. Dentate individuals with a diagnosis of periodontitis were identified. Data gathered on patient demographics, payment type/insurance coverage, periodontal treatment procedures, and periodontal health measures. Patients were grouped based on payment modality. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used for data analysis.Results A total of 2864 patient records diagnosed with periodontitis were identified. Approximately 47.42% completed initial periodontal therapy: Denti-Cal (n = 279), conventional insurance (n = 223), and uninsured (n = 770). In all groups combined, 58.41% of patients did not receive any SPT visits, 32.7% of patients were erratic compliers (1–2 visits during the study period) and only 8.89% of patients showed reliable compliance (3 or more visits during the study period). Percentage of individuals successfully placed on SPT, frequency of visits during the study period and periodontal health measures were statistically comparable among the 3 payment groups.Conclusions Eliminating financial barriers alone is not sufficient to improve either compliance with periodontal maintenance or measures of periodontal health.Practical Implications Effective utilization of Denti-Cal benefits can be a great asset in developing a successful periodontal maintenance program serving low-income individuals.