Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Dental Health Service Utilization in Mexican Pediatric Patients Aged 2–12 Years With High Dental Caries Experience

Background Oral health in children is essential for their overall development, but access to dental services remains unequal, especially among vulnerable populations. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of dental health service utilization in Mexican pediatric patients with high dental caries experience aged 2-12 years visiting a university clinic in Toluca, Mexico. Methodology This retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed 309 medical records of pediatric patients from the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEM). Data were extracted from records completed by parents/guardians, including variables such as age, sex, oral hygiene habits, number of siblings, caries experience (measured via WHO-standardized decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth (dmft) and decayed, missing, filled permanent teeth (DMFT) indices for primary and permanent dentition), previous dental pain experience, and current reason for consultation. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata version 14.0. Descriptive statistics (means, frequencies) characterized the sample, while bivariate analyses (chi-square, Mann-Whitney U tests) explored associations between variables. A binary logistic regression model identified predictors of dental health services utilization, adjusting for covariates. Significance was set at p-values ≤0.05. Results The mean age was 5.71 ± 2.43 years, and 50.8% were male. Of the children, 49.2% had previous dental visits. It was observed that for each year of age, the likelihood of having a previous dental visit increased by 44% (1.29-1.62). On the other hand, when the combined dmft + DMFT index increased by one unit, the odds of having a previous dental visit increased by 1.07 times (1.01-1.14). Conclusions Dental health services utilization in this sample of Mexican children with high dental caries experience was driven primarily by age and the presence of caries, reflecting late access and predominantly curative treatment. These results underscore the urgency of strategies that promote preventive care from early childhood, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations.