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

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.