Changes in Oral Health Behavior According to Dental Calculus Removal Health Insurance in Korea

Background: Periodontal disease is a chronic disease that is increasing year by year. Korea also recognizes the seriousness of periodontal disease and has been applying preventive scaling in the National Health Insurance since 2013 to prevent it. Studies confirming the effectiveness of such insurance coverage are very scarce. Therefore, this study intended to confirm the effect of such policy by comparing and analyzing the oral health characteristics and oral health behavior of the South Koreans before and after the scaling insurance. Methods: For all the analyses, complex sampling analysis with the stratification variable, clustering variable, and weight was applied. For a total of 40,945 people, the demographic characteristics, oral health characteristics, dental clinic use, brushing, and use of oral care supplies were compared through chi-square tests. Results: Scaling insurance showed a positive effect (p < 0.05) on the unemployed and elderly people, who had lost their previous economic status; on smoking and willingness to quit smoking as well as on consultation on drinking problems; on dental-clinic use and oral examination in terms of utilization of dental clinics; and on brushing after lunch, before breakfast, and before sleeping. Conclusions: The study results showed that the scaling rate was universalized, and there was a positive effect on willingness to quit smoking and undergo oral examination. An active reimbursement policy for oral health education is needed, however, if a substantial change in oral health behavior is to be achieved.