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Effects of unmet dental care needs on later dental service use: longitudinal analysis of the Korea Health Panel Survey (2020–2023)

  • Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
  • Abbr : J Korean Soc Dent Hyg
  • 2026, 26(5), pp.603~610
  • DOI : 10.13065/jksdh.2026.26.5.4
  • Publisher : Korean Society of Dental Hygiene
  • Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Dentistry
  • Received : August 25, 2026
  • Accepted : October 16, 2026
  • Published : October 30, 2026

Sang-Hee Lee 1,  임지연 2

1보건의료정보연구소
2치위생학연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the association between dental care utilization in the following year and unmet dental care needs. Methods: Using data from the 2 nd Korea Health Panel Survey (2020-2023), a complete case analysis of 24,248 person-years was conducted. The dependent variable was dental care utilization in the following year, and the independent variable was unmet dental care needs. Sex, age, education, income, chronic disease status, and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (2020-2021) were included as covariates. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze repeated measures. Results: Individuals without unmet dental care need had a higher likelihood of dental care utilization in the following year, but this association was not statistically significant after adjustment for covariates (odds ratio, 1.098; 95% confidence interval, 0.986-1.223; p=0.090). Dental care utilization in the following year was also higher among female, older individuals, and those with higher education and income. In contrast, dental care utilization in the following year was lower among individuals without chronic disease and during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared with other years. Conclusions: The association between dental care utilization in the following year and unmet dental care needs was not statistically significant, but unmet dental care needs should still be considered in efforts to improve dental care utilization in the following year.

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