Associations between Dental Checkups and Unmet Dental Care Needs: An Examination of Cross-Sectional Data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018)

Jong-Hwa Jang,Jae-Hyun Kim,Ji-Liang Kim

doi:10.3390/ijerph18073750

Jong-Hwa Jang, Jae-Hyun Kim + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073750

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Abstract

To identify gender- and age-related associations between adult dental checkups and unmet dental care needs, we analyzed data of 14,000 participants, from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018). Data were collected via self-report questionnaires and interviews. The complex sample chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that 31.7% of participants had unmet dental care needs. Within the previous 12 months, 56.5% did not undertake dental checkups, and 29.3% did not use a dental service. Odds ratios (ORs) of the unmet dental needs were 8.87 (confidence interval (CI) = 7.80–10.09, p < 0.001) for those who did not use dental services and 1.28 (CI = 1.13–1.44, p < 0.001) for those who did not have dental checkups. Significant age-dependent associations between those not receiving dental checkups and the rate of unmet dental care included men and women aged 50–59 years and women ≥70 years. However, unmet dental care needs for men aged ≥70 years not undergoing dental checkups were not statistically significant (p = 0.311). Overall, it was found that the use of dental service and dental checkups were the influencing factors for unmet dental care needs.

Highlights

IntroductionIn South Korea, all citizens are obliged to join the National Health Insurance scheme under the National Health Insurance Act (except those with an approved exemption for a specific reason), and the insured and their dependents are entitled to free preventive dental checkups [1]
In South Korea, all citizens are obliged to join the National Health Insurance scheme under the National Health Insurance Act, and the insured and their dependents are entitled to free preventive dental checkups [1]
Many studies have been conducted on the causes of unmet dental care needs among Koreans: sociodemographic characteristics [18], factors related to dental pain [14], insecurity in the employment market [19,20], the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT)

Summary

Introduction

In South Korea, all citizens are obliged to join the National Health Insurance scheme under the National Health Insurance Act (except those with an approved exemption for a specific reason), and the insured and their dependents are entitled to free preventive dental checkups [1]. The reported rate of compliance with routine dental checkups is very low (31.0% in 2015; 31.8% in 2017) compared to general health examinations Adults with risk factors (e.g., smoking and diabetes) can reduce the incidence of tooth loss by receiving dental checkups every 6 months [6]. Regular dental checkups provide dental service users with an accurate evaluation of their oral health status, enhancing their motivation to prevent and treat oral diseases [7,8]. Cho et al [9] reported that mothers who received dental checkups are twice as likely to have their children treated with pit and fissure sealant compared to mothers who did not

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