Factors Affecting Dental Hygienists’ Recognition of Elderly Implant Insurance

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess dental hygienists’ recognition of elderly implant insurance and examine the factors affecting it. Methods: This study was conducted on 215 dental hygienists working in dental clinics with more than four years of clinical work experience, based on the time when the elderly implant insurance benefit was implemented. Data collection was conducted through a self-contained survey through direct visits and mail. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions that covered demographic characteristics, general awareness of dental health insurance, and detailed perception of elderly implant insurance. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting dental hygienists’ awareness of the coverage of elderly implant insurance. Results: The dental hygienists had a low average perception of dental health insurance. The dental hygienists’ awareness of the elderly implant insurance coverage increased when they were more interested in national health insurance (p=.002), when they highly thought that the current dental health insurance is not being implemented for national oral health (p=.000), and when they highly thought that the current dental health insurance system aims to stabilize one’s family life (p=.004). Conclusions: Through this study, dental hygienists were able to identify implant health insurance benefits and awareness. It is expected that it will contribute to the improvement of awareness and awareness of dental health insurance benefits by dental hygienists according to the changing dental health insurance benefits in the future.