[Social disparities in dental health: measuring risks and health needs].
Our aim was to compare the dental health level of the general population to that of beneficiaries of universal health coverage (CMUC) in order to define their needs and to measure the dental health risk associated with precariousness. The study sample was composed of requests for prior approval in eight administrative regions. Accordingly, 3118 patients covered by the CMUC and 3310 beneficiaries of the general fund stricto sensu were examined by the fund's salaried dental advisors (chirurgiens-dentistes-conseils) and enrolled in the study. With a similar average DMF index, CMUC recipients had more missing teeth than was found in the general population. In the DMF index, this greater number of missing teeth was compensated by fewer filled teeth than in the general population. The F/DMF index allows a better functional evaluation of dental health. The risk of not receiving conservative care is increased by one and half to three in destitute individuals. The overall results suggest that CMUC recipients fail to obtain sufficient early dental care.