title: Utilization of Preventive Dental Services Before and After Health Insurance Covered Dental Scaling in Korea.
abstract: Health insurance reduces the economic burden of diseases and enhances access to medical services. This study compared, among social classes, the utilization of preventive dental service before and after health insurance covered dental scaling. We analyzed time-series secondary data for 3  175  584 participants from 253 survey areas nationwide in the Community Health Survey (2009-2014) in Korea. The weighted proportion of participants who underwent dental scaling was defined as the scaling rate. Data regarding demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were collected. Scaling rates continuously increased over the 6-year period, particularly in 2014. College graduates had significantly higher scaling rates. Monthly income and scaling rate were positively related. Differences by education decreased over time. Differences by income were particularly high between 2012 and 2014. For women, the temporal rate was 2 times higher for professionals than for the unemployed. Despite increased dental scaling rates since the health coverage change in 2013, socioeconomic differences persist.
authors.affiliation: 1 Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: 2 Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chun-Bae
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 2 Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: community health survey; dental health; health insurance; preventive service; socioeconomic factors