ABSTRACT Background Unmet dental care is a key indicator of oral health inequality and is associated with oral functional decline and frailty in later life. Because oral function may influence dental care utilisation across age groups, age‐stratified evaluation is warranted. This study examined age‐specific factors associated with unmet dental care among Korean adults. Methods This cross‐sectional study analysed pooled data from the 2022 and 2024 Korean Community Health Surveys ( n = 463,513). Participants aged ≥ 40 years were stratified into ≤ 64 and ≥ 65 age groups. Unmet dental care was defined as self‐reported inability to receive needed dental treatment in the past year. Survey‐weighted Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The prevalence of unmet dental care was 16.1% (95% CI: 15.8–16.4) among adults aged ≤ 64 years and 14.6% (95% CI: 14.1–15.1) among those aged ≥ 65 years. Following these prevalence estimates, age‐specific associations were identified. Among adults aged ≤ 64 years, higher education and economic activity were associated with a higher prevalence of unmet dental care, whereas physical activity and toothbrushing after lunch were associated with a lower prevalence. Among adults aged ≥ 65 years, female sex and toothbrushing after lunch were associated with a lower prevalence, while living with a spouse was associated with a higher prevalence. Poor subjective oral health and chewing difficulty were associated with unmet dental care in both age groups. A significant interaction between subjective oral health status and chewing difficulty was observed only in the ≤ 64 age group. Conclusion Determinants of unmet dental care differ by age group, underscoring the need for age‐tailored oral health strategies that incorporate oral functional assessment into community‐based care.
Eun Gyo Son (Thu,) studied this question.