From: Inequality in unmet dental care needs among South Korean adults
Variables | Experience of unmet dental care needs (% or mean ± SE) | No experience of unmet dental care needs (% or mean ± SE) | P value |
---|---|---|---|
Total (n = 17,141) | 43.9 (n = 7517) | 56.1 (n = 9624) |  |
Demographic factors | |||
 Sex |  |  | <0.0001 |
  Male (n = 7261) | 40.8 | 59.2 |  |
  Female (n = 9880) | 47 | 53 |  |
 Age (years) |  |  | <0.0001 |
  19-39 (n = 5744) | 46.2 | 53.8 |  |
  40-64 (n = 7553) | 44.2 | 55.8 |  |
  65 or older (n = 3844) | 35.9 | 64.1 |  |
 Marital status |  |  | 0.0396 |
  Married (n = 12,201) | 43.9 | 56.1 |  |
  Separated/divorced/widowed (n = 2537) | 46.9 | 53.1 |  |
  Single (n = 2312) | 42.4 | 57.6 |  |
Socioeconomic factors | |||
 Education level |  |  | 0.0121 |
  University or higher (n = 4351) | 43.4 | 56.6 |  |
  High school (n = 5882) | 44.6 | 55.4 |  |
  Middle school (n = 1909) | 46 | 54 |  |
  Elementary or lower (n = 4965) | 42.5 | 57.5 |  |
 Employment status |  |  | 0.0220 |
  Employed (n = 9866) | 44.6 | 55.4 |  |
  Unemployed (n = 7159) | 42.9 | 57.1 |  |
 Income quartile |  |  | <0.0001 |
  4th quartile: High (n = 4180) | 37 | 63 |  |
  3rd quartile: Mid-high (n = 4195) | 42.7 | 57.3 |  |
  2nd quartile: Mid-low (n = 4156) | 47.7 | 52.3 |  |
  1st quartile: Low (n = 4181) | 48.8 | 51.2 |  |
Dental need factors | |||
 Normative treatment needs |  |  | <0.0001 |
  No treatment needs (n = 10,739) | 36.1 | 63.9 |  |
  Treatment needs (n = 6018) | 57.1 | 42.9 |  |
 Self-perceived oral status |  |  | <0.0001 |
  Good (n = 2053) | 19.7 | 80.3 |  |
  Fair (n = 6528) | 34.8 | 65.2 |  |
  Poor (n = 8271) | 57.7 | 42.3 |  |
Oral health-related factors | |||
 Number of decayed teeth (n = 18,406) | 1.24 ± 0.03 | 0.58 ± 0.02 | <0.0001a |
 Periodontal disease |  |  | <0.0001 |
  No (n = 10,570) | 42.1 | 57.9 |  |
  Yes (n = 5425) | 48.7 | 51.3 |  |
 Number of missing teeth (n = 18,406) | 3.02 ± 0.09 | 3.41 ± 0.09 | <0.0001a |