J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2022 Sep;46(3):147-153. 10.11149/jkaoh.2022.46.3.147.

Analysis of the trends in the disparities of toothbrushing and dental care use by household income level using the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Jung SH

• KMID: 2534111
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2022.46.3.147

Abstract

Objectives
This study aimed to analyze the trends of the gap in toothbrushing and dental care according to the household income level of all people using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (the KNHANES) data.
Methods
Data from 2007-2020 were downloaded from the KNHANES website. Data integration and analysis were conducted for each wave. The prevalence of toothbrushing less than twice a day, toothbrushing after lunch, unmet dental care needs, regular dental check-ups, and preventive dental services use were each estimated based on the data users’ guidebook. The absolute difference (AD) between the lowest and highest income level and the prevalence ratio (PR) were calculated.
Results
The prevalence of toothbrushing less than twice a day and toothbrushing after lunch improved by 5.3% and 13.6%, respectively. However, AD decreased by 4.5% and 2.4%, respectively. The step-wise social gradient in the PR of these indicators was maintained. The prevalence of unmet dental care needs improved substantially from 38.7% in Wave 4 to 21.0% in Wave 7. However, AD and PR were the poorest in Wave 7. The prevalence of regular dental check-ups and preventive dental service use improved steadily by Wave 8 to 45.0% and 37.0%, respectively. However, AD in Wave 8 was ―16.8% for the prevalence of regular dental check-ups and ―12.2% for preventive dental service use. The social gradient in the PR was maintained.
Conclusions
While toothbrushing and dental care use have improved over the past decade, disparity by income level has not been noticeably reduced. This study’s results also reflected the achievements and limitations of the Korean government’s policies and projects for toothbrushing and dental hygiene habits.

Keyword

Disparity; Household income; Preventive dental service; Regular dental check-up; The KNHANES; Toothbrushing; Unmet dental care need

Reference

References

1. Sanders AE, Spencer AJ, Slade GD. 2006; Evaluating the role of dental behaviour in oral health inequalities. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 34:71–79. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2006.00261.x. PMID: 16423034.

2. Sabbah W, Tsakos G, Sheiham A, Watt RG. 2009; The role health-related behaviors in the socioeconomic disparities in oral health. Social Science & Medicine. 68:298–303. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.10.030.

3. Sheiham A, Watt RG. 2000; The Common risk factor approach: a rational basis for promoting oral health. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 28:399–406. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2000.028006399.x. PMID: 11106011.

4. Wamala S, Merlo J, Bostrom G. 2006; Inequity in access to dental care services explains current socioeconomic disparities in oral health: The Swedish national surveys of public health 2004-2005. J Epidemiol Community Health. 60:1027–1033. DOI: 10.1136/jech.2006.046896. PMID: 17108297. PMCID: PMC2465506.

5. Petersen PE, Baez RJ. World Health Oragnization. 2013. Oral health surveys: basic methods. 5th ed. World Health Organization;Geneva: p. 5–10. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2000.028006399.x.

6. Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2005. The 2nd National Health Plan 2010. Ministry of Health and Welfare;p. 127–142. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2000.028006399.x.

7. Jung SH, Song YH, Choi JS. 2021. A study for developing the 2nd national oral health plan 2022-2026 in Korea. Ministry of Health and Welfare, Gangneung-Wonju National University Industry Academy Cooperation Group;p. 27–37. p. 55–77. p. 97–120. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2000.028006399.x.

8. Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2021. The 5nd National Health Plan 2030. Ministry of Health and Welfare;p. 63. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2000.028006399.x.

9. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 2021. April. Guidebook for data users of Korea National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey, 7th wave(2016-2018). National statistics No.117002. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0528.2000.028006399.x.

10. Korea National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey, Survey Data [Internet]. Available from:https://knhanes.kdca.go.kr/knhanes/main.do. cited 2022 March 29.

11. Kim MJ, Lim CY, Son JL. 2020; Comparison of study affecting the use of dental sealant in consequence of its inclusion in the National Health Insurance coverage: Using data from the 5th-7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES). Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. 21(12):798–806.

12. Kang HK, Kim YR. 2019; Comparison of the oral health status before and after preventive scaling using the provision of national health insurance: THE 5th-6th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of Korean Society of Dental Hygiene. 19(5):765–776. DOI: 10.13065/jksdh.20190065.

13. Lim JY, Nam HS. 2021; Comparison of oral health conditions according to the practice of brushing before sleeping in adults using the 7th Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey(KNHANES VII-2) data. Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. 22(10):379–386. DOI: 10.5762/KAIS.2021.22.10.379.

14. Shin GS, Choi SE. 2020; The impact of preventive dental check-up on the oral health: Based on the 7th(2016-2018) Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Health & Welfare. 22(4):53–78. DOI: 10.23948/kshw.2020.12.22.4.53.

15. Han DH, Ryu JI, Kim MS, Ghang HY, Jung SH, Kim SJ, et al. 2021. Analyzing the performance of expanding dental health insurance coverage and a mid- to long-term planning for expanding the coverage. p. 3–5.

16. Kim MJ, Lim CY, Son JL. 2021; Comparison of study affecting the use of dental sealant in consequence of its inclusion in the National Health Insurance coverage: Using data from the 5th-7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES). Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society. 21(12):798–806.

17. Kim YT, Lee JH, Kweon HI, Lee JS, Choi JK, Kim DW, et al. 2016; Evaluation of national health insurance coverage of periodontal scaling: A nationalwide cohort study in Korea. Journal of the Korean Dental Association. 54(8):

18. Choi YE. 2017. A study on the national health insurance coverage extension implant and denture for elderly people [master's thesis]. Konyang University;Daejeon: 44–46. [Korean].

19. Aqulanti L, Gallegati S, Temperini V, Ferrante L, Skrami E, Procaccini M, et al. 2020; Italian response to Cononavirus pandemic in dental care access: The CeCADE study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 17:6977. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17196977. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17196977. PMID: 32987661. PMCID: PMC7579054. PMID: 0fded8aa73144e53b48727418b39c076.

20. Suzuki S, Ohama A, Yoshino K, Eguchi T, Kamijo H, Sugihara N. 2022 (in press); COVID-19-related factors delaying dental visits of workers in Japan. Int Dental Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2022.05.001. DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2022.05.001. PMID: 35680437. PMCID: PMC9085458.