Table 3.

Predictors of persistent heavy use of oral health services

	N=252
Independent variables	OR (95% CI)	p-value
Sex
Female	1.0 (0.4, 2.1)	0.917
Male	Reference
Age group
30-44	0.4 (0.1, 2.2)	0.307
45-64	4.4 (1.2, 16.6)	0.027
65+	6.7 (1.7, 26.6)	0.007
18-29	Reference
Occupational status
White-collar workers	1.6 (0.2, 12.9)	0.685
Blue-collar workers	3.7 (0.4, 31.8)	0.230
Pensioners	10.0 (1.2, 85.6)	0.036
Students	Reference
General health status
Self-reported chronic illnesses	1.6 (0.7, 3.9)	0.276
No chronic illnesses	Reference
Number of treating dentists
5 or more	14.4 (5.5, 38.0)	0.000
1-4	Reference
Type of treatment measures
Emergency	7.9 (3.0, 20.7)	0.000
No emergency treatments	Reference
Examination	2.6 (1.7, 4.2)	0.000
No examinations	Reference

Persistent heavy users (n=29) are compared with persistent low users (n=223). Odds ratios and 95% confidence limits based on logistic regression.