• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.182-187
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• 2018

As the elderly population increases, they are increasingly affected by oral health problems. Therefore, efforts are being made to improve the oral health of older people, alleviate mental discomfort, and reduce unmet dental needs. This study was conducted to confirm the relationship between the National Health Insurance Elderly Denture Coverage and the unmet dental need for the edentulous elderly, as part of the protection policy. We analyzed the 2011 and 2013 Community Health Survey data of the edentulous elderly, aged 75 years or older, before 2012. In order to more precisely confirm the effects of the denture donation policy on unmet dental care, basic life recipients who were subject to the free elderly prosthetic project were excluded from the analysis. The final analysis included 20,400 subjects. According to our investigation of the factors that affect the unmet dental needs of the elderly, the National Health Insurance Elderly Denture Coverage did not affect unmet dental needs. The statistically significant variables that affected the unmet dental needs of the elderly were education and income levels, which are representative socioeconomic status variables. The lower the level of education, the unhealthier the dental care experience, and income levels showed a similar tendency. The elderly who have a low socioeconomic status are more likely to experience unmet dental needs because they lack the knowledge and socioeconomic ability to pay for dental care. Therefore, the policy for health protection of the entire elderly population should be continuously expanded. In addition, the socioeconomically vulnerable groups may have health problems due to the restriction of medical use, which may lead to quality of life deterioration.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.911-920
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• 2018

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the Korean elderly and their unmet dental care needs, by using the 2015 data from the $6^{th}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: In total, 1,372 elderly persons aged 65 and over, who responded to the $6^{th}$ NHANES, were included in the final analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify any relationship between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and unmet dental care needs. Results: The rate of unmet dental care needs was shown to be less by 0.799 times in the elderly who reside in dong than those who live in eup and myeon (OR: 0.799, 95% CI: 0.679-0.959). Unmet dental care needs were higher in participants with 'low' and 'below average' than 'above average' income, by 1.645 times (OR: 1.645, 95% CI: 1.087-2.366) and 1.172 times (OR: 1.172, 95% CI: 1.108-1.880), respectively. Elderly individuals living alone had a higher rate of unmet dental care needs than those living with their family by 1.157 times (OR: 1.157, 95% CI: 1.084-1.498). Conclusions: Demographic and socioeconomic factors influenced unmet dental care needs, causing inequality. Proper policy support to the vulnerable should be considered in order to enhance the elderly's access to dental care.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2019

Background: With increased interest in oral health, several efforts have been made to improve oral health conditions. To achieve this, needs for oral health must be precisely determined and accurately measured. Therefore, factors influencing both objective unmet dental needs, which were determined by experts, and perceived unmet dental needs, which were determined by patients, were examined in this study. Methods: Responses of 17,735 respondents aged greater than 19 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey collected using the fifth (2010~2012) rotation sample survey were analyzed. Based on the information collected from the survey and dental examination, we determined the associations between the independent (sex and socioeconomic level) and dependent variables using a chi-squared test. Moreover, ordinal logistic regression analyses on multiple categorical values were performed using perceived and objective dental needs as the dependent variables. Results: Generally, factors influencing both perceived and objective dental needs were similar. These included sex, household income, educational level, private insurance, and subjective oral health status. However, the high-income groups had lesser perceived and objective dental needs compared to the low-income groups. Furthermore, factors such as sex, educational level, and marital status had different influence on both needs. Conclusion: Generally, factors that affect perceived and objective dental needs were similar. To minimize unmet dental needs, factors influencing both perceived and objective dental needs should be examined for a broad dental insurance coverage, and efforts to prevent oral diseases are also required.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.243-256
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to determine and facilitate provisions for the unmet dental needs of Koreans, stratified by time, influencing factors, and research trends, through a systematic review of related published studies since 2006. Methods: this review focused on previous studies published between January 2006 and November 2019 that analyzed influencing the factors underlying the unmet dental needs of koreans. We followed the guidelines set for each phase of research and selected the final 32 studies that met the selection criteria for the analysis. Results: The number of studies has rapidly increased since 2015 (22 studies, 68.7%). the were 68.9% in 2006, 25.9% in 2009, 41.3% in 2010- 2012, and 33.3% in 2013-2015 for adults and 27.9% in 2010, 24.6% in 2015, and 16.1% in 2017 for the rates of older adults. the rates of unmet dental needs related to economic factors, were 38.6% in 2006, 41.4% in 2007-2009, and 35.9% in 2013-2015 for adults and 50.5% in 2010 and 41.2% in 2015 for the older adults. There were common influencing factors for unmet dental needs. the rate of unmet dental needs was increased by with female gender, younger age, single marital status, low family income, low educational level, worsened subjective health condition, and the presence of chronic diseases. Conclusions: Standardized studies with more accurate definitions and assessment tools are required. however, our study emphasizes the need for a policy intervention that accounts for the characteristics of subjects to reduce unmet dental needs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.167-174
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the accessibility of dental care services among individuals with precarious employment in South Korea. Methods: We used the $9^{th}$ wave of the Korean Health Panel data (2015) and included 7,736 wage and non-wage earners in our study. We determined precariousness in the labor market as a combination of employment relationship and job income, and categorized individuals based on this into the following four groups: Group A comprising those who report job and income security, Group B comprising those who experience job insecurity alone, Group C comprising those who report a stable job but low income, and Group D comprising those who experience both job and income insecurity. Accessibility to dental care services was determined by experience of unmet dental care needs and unmet dental care needs caused primarily by financial burden. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the effect of precarious work on access to dental care services. Results: Individuals with job insecurity (Group B; OR=1.445; 95% CI=1.22-1.70) and both job and income insecurity (Group D; OR=1.899; 95% CI=1.61-2.24) were more likely to have unmet needs than the comparison group. Both groups B and D were also 2.048 (95% CI=1.57-2.66) times and 4.435 (95% CI =3.46-5.68) times more likely, respectively, to have unmet dental care needs caused by financial burden. Education status, health insurance, and health status were all also effective factors influencing unmet dental care needs. Conclusions: Unstable employment and low income resulted in diminished access to dental care services. Therefore, governments should consider health policy solutions to reduce barriers preventing individuals with employment and income instability from accessing adequate dental care.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.485-492
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to unmet dental care needs among Korean youth, enhance the utilization of dental services by adolescents, furnish basic data for youth-oriented dental projects, and improve access to medical care. Methods: The analysis utilized combined data from the basic and oral databases from the 6th (2013-2015), 7th (2016-2018), and 1st year of the 8th (2019) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: The factors influencing unmet dental care needs were gender, age, household income level, and health insurance. Statistically significant results were observed in relation to the type of dental clinic, recent visits to a dental hospital, experiences of toothache within the past year, subjective oral health status, occurrences of permanent dental caries, and engagement in orthodontic treatment. Conclusions: When formulating future national policies and projects, it is imperative to consider the factors and underlying reasons for the unmet dental care needs of adolescents. It is also necessary to establish oral health policies and institutional measures tailored to the dental care of adolescents.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.355-360
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine unmet dental care needs and related factors among adults in Korea. The study included a nationally representative sample of Koreans (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2104). The dependent variable was unmet dental care need and the independent variables were socioeconomic status and oral health status. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the associations between explanatory variables and unmet dental care needs. The major causes of unmet dental care needs included economic burden, work life, and academic reasons; in addition, dental treatment was considered to have lower priority. The factors that had statistically significant relationships with unmet dental care needs were sex, age, self-rated oral health status, and difficulty in mastication. The findings of the study, suggest a need for lower dental insurance copayments in keeping with the policies and principles aimed at strengthening the national health insurance system. In addition, groups with limited access to dental services should be identified, and effective health care policies and services should be established for these individuals.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the unmet dental needs of Koreans. In relation to the subjects and methodology for this study, the data from the 5th national health nutrition survey which had been conducted between 2010 and 2012 were analyzed by using the PASW statistics 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), a statistical program, through the frequency analysis of complex samples, cross analysis of complex samples, and logistics regression analysis of complex samples. The results of analysis showed that the rate of unmet dental needs stood at 35.3% of all subjects. Moreover, to determine the factors related to the unmet dental needs, the logistics regression analysis of complex samples was conducted. The results of analysis showed that the demographic and socio-economic factors and oral health condition factors had relationship with unmet dental needs. It is necessary to consider all the objective dental treatments that reflect specific dental diagnosis from a comprehensive standpoint.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.787-795
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the degree of disparity in unmet dental care needs in Korean adults. Methods: Using data from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 9,573 adults between 25-54 years old were selected. The reason for unmet dental care needs was analyzed by chi square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Those having unmet oral health care needs accounted for 41.3%. The majority of the reason (1,036 persons) was "busy with school or work" and the second reason was financial burden (1,028 persons). Those who were female individuals (OR: 1.14, CI: 1.02-1.27), having higher income (OR: 0.85, CI: 0.72-0.99), and perceiving poor oral health status (OR: 5.68, CI: 4.64-6.95). Conclusions: It is necessary to extend and implement the nationwide public assistance of dental care services among the second-to-the bottom and low income people.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.581-591
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• 2020

Objectives: Oral diseases can be prevented, and early treatment through dental checkups is important. This study was investigated the relationship between dental checkups and unmet dental care needs in Korean adults. Methods: From the data of the 7th Korean national health and nutrition survey (2016-2017), the final 9,300 of the 16,277 participants selected as the method for extracting stratified colonies by complex sample design. A structured questionnaire interview was used, and chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: The relationship between dental checkups and unmet dental care needs for the last one year was analyzed by controlling demographic characteristics, variables related to health conditions, and "use of dental clinics for the last year." The unmet dental care needs were 7.57 times higher (CI: 6.49-8.83) for non-users of dental clinics for 1 year, and 1.32 times (CI: 1.13-1.54) for dental checkups for 1 year compared to non-dental checkups patients. Conclusions: As described above, there was a close relationship between adult dental checkups and unmet dental care needs. Therefore, it is suggested that it is necessary to expand educational publicity and prepare policy strategies such as visiting dental checkups to improve the adult dental checkups.