Factors Associated with Dental Care Utilization for Oral Disease Prevention Among Adolescents in Multicultural Families in Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Objectives: This study utilized data from the 2022 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey to examine the utilization of preventive dental care among adolescents from multicultural families and analyze the associated factors.

Methods: The number of adolescents from multicultural families, based on parental nationality, was 1361. The dependent variables were asymptomatic dental visits, sealant experience, and scaling experience. The independent variables included health perception factors (subjective health status, subjective oral health status), health behaviors (fruit consumption frequency, vegetable consumption frequency, sugary drink consumption frequency, drinking experience, smoking experience), and oral health behaviors (daily tooth-brushing frequency, tooth brushing after lunch, use of oral care products, oral symptom experience). Confounding variables included demographic variables (age, grade) and socioeconomic variables (academic performance, economic level, parental education level, mother's nationality). Statistical analyses were conducted using a complex samples cross-tabulation and complex samples logistic regression.

Results: Asymptomatic dental visits were significantly associated with subjective oral health status and sugary drink consumption. Those who perceived their oral health as "Healthy" had an odds ratio (OR) of 3.34 (CI = 1.76-6.32; p < 0.001), and those who perceived themselves "Normal" had an OR of 2.03 (CI = 1.08-3.82; p = 0.029). A sugary drink consumption of less than three times per week was linked with an OR of 1.68 (CI = 1.05-2.70; p = 0.031). Sealant experience was associated with brushing before bedtime (OR = 2.27, CI = 1.18-4.35; p = 0.014) and using more than one oral care product (OR = 1.97, CI = 1.27-3.07; p = 0.003). Scaling experience associated with oral symptoms (OR = 1.94, CI = 1.21-3.11; p = 0.006).

Conclusions: To enhance access to preventive dental care utilization for adolescents from multicultural families, efforts are needed to raise subjective oral health awareness, improve oral health behaviors, and develop strategies that ensure timely preventive dental care.