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Children’s Dental Sealant Use and Caries Prevalence Affected by National Health Insurance Policy Change: Evidence from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2015)

Author

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  • Minsung Sohn

    (Department of Health and Care Administration, The Cyber University of Korea, 106 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03051, Korea)

  • Sujin Park

    (Division of Hospital Management Support, Seoul Health Foundation, 31 Maebongsan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 03909, Korea)

  • Sungwon Lim

    (School of Nursing, University of Washington, Health Sciences Building, Room T-507, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA)

  • Hee-Jung Park

    (Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Science, Kangwon National University, 346 Hwangjo-gil, Dogye-up, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do 25945, Korea)

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of the National Health Insurance (NHI) policy including dental sealant on changes in the prevalence of sealant and caries, and examined how NHI affected sealant utilization and untreated caries in children from diverse income groups in South Korea. We used a multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore the effects of three stages of dental sealant policy (pre-policy: 2007–2009, first post-policy: 2010–2012, and second post-policy: 2013–2015) on the prevalence of dental sealant and untreated caries. Participant data ( N = 8161, aged 6–14 years) were derived from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2015). We also conducted subgroup analysis to determine the effects of the NHI policy on dental sealant and untreated caries by income level. Implementation of dental insurance coverage was associated with higher likelihood of using dental sealant (odds ratio (OR) = 1.39 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18–1.63) for the first period and OR = 1.58 (95% CI: 1.33–1.87) for the second period) and lower odds of having untreated caries (OR = 0.79 (95% CI: 0.64–0.98) for the first period and OR = 0.65 (95% CI: 0.51–0.83) for the second period) after controlling for covariates. Results revealed that there was a greater prevalence of dental sealant and a lower prevalence of untreated caries in both middle- and low-income households compared to high-income households. The higher prevalence of dental sealant and lower untreated caries after the policy implementation. Moreover, we demonstrated children from low-or middle-income households were more associated with increasing dental sealant use and a declining prevalence of caries.

Suggested Citation

  • Minsung Sohn & Sujin Park & Sungwon Lim & Hee-Jung Park, 2019. "Children’s Dental Sealant Use and Caries Prevalence Affected by National Health Insurance Policy Change: Evidence from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2015)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:15:p:2773-:d:254441
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Choi, Moonkyung Kate, 2011. "The impact of Medicaid insurance coverage on dental service use," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 1020-1031.
    2. Manski, R.J. & Moeller, J.F. & Chen, H., 2014. "Dental care coverage and use: Modeling limitations and opportunities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(10), pages 2002-2009.
    3. Chi, D.L. & Masterson, E.E. & Carle, A.C. & Mancl, L.A. & Coldwell, S.E., 2014. "Socioeconomic status, food security, and dental caries in us children: Mediation analyses of data from the national health and nutrition examination survey, 2007-2008," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(5), pages 860-864.
    4. Manski, R.J. & Moeller, J.F. & Chen, H., 2014. "Dental care coverage and use: Modeling limitations and opportunities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(2), pages 80-87.
    5. Decker, Sandra L. & Lipton, Brandy J., 2015. "Do Medicaid benefit expansions have teeth? The effect of Medicaid adult dental coverage on the use of dental services and oral health," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 212-225.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ji-Eun Jeon & A-Rang Lim & Hyang-Ah Park & Jae-In Ryu, 2020. "Does the Registered Dentists’ Program Alleviate the Socioeconomic Gap in the Use of Dental Sealants?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Minsung Sohn & Xianhua Che & Sungwon Lim & Hee-Jung Park, 2020. "Estimating Lifetime Dental Care Expenditure in South Korea: An Abridged Life Table Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-11, May.

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