Dental Care Utilization for Examination and Regional Deprivation

J Prev Med Public Health. 2015 Jul;48(4):195-202. doi: 10.3961/jpmph.15.026. Epub 2015 Jul 23.

Abstract

Objectives: Receiving proper dental care plays a significant role in maintaining good oral health. We investigated the relationship between regional deprivation and dental care utilization.

Methods: Multilevel logistic regression was used to identify the relationship between the regional deprivation level and dental care utilization purpose, adjusting for individual-level variables, in adults aged 19+ in the 2008 Korean Community Health Survey (n=220 258).

Results: Among Korean adults, 12.8% used dental care to undergo examination and 21.0% visited a dentist for other reasons. In the final model, regional deprivation level was associated with significant variations in dental care utilization for examination (p<0.001). However, this relationship was not shown with dental care utilization for other reasons in the final model.

Conclusions: This study's findings suggest that policy interventions should be considered to reduce regional variations in rates of dental care utilization for examination.

Keywords: Dental care; Dental health surveys; Multilevel analysis; Residence characteristics; Utilization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Demography
  • Dental Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult