J Agric Med Community Health.  2025 Mar;50(1):58-69. 10.5393/JAMCH.2025.50.1.058.

Prevalence of Unmet Dental Care Need and its Related Factors among Adults in Seoul, South Korea

• Kim V
• Kim H

• KMID: 2570798
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5393/JAMCH.2025.50.1.058

Abstract

Objectives
This study was attempted to evaluate the prevalence of unmet dental care need and its and related factors among adults in seoul in order to increase accessibility to dental care and prepare the scientific evidence for the health policy of national oral health.
Methods
This is a secondary data analysis study using survey data from 20,340 people aged 19 or older who participated in the 2021 Seoul Community Health Survey.
Results
The experience rate of unmet dental care needs was 14.3%, and factors related to unmet dental care experience were gender, age, income, subjective stress, depression, subjective oral health perception, current chewing discomfort, and number of teeth brushing yesterday.
Conclusions
In order to reduce the experience rate of unmet dental care and increase accessibility to dental care, expansion of dental health insurance, oral health education, and social support are necessary.

Keyword

Prevalence of unmet dental care need; Related factor; Community Health Survey