Association between private dental insurance enrollment and dental care utilization: A two-part model approach

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between private dental insurance enrollment and dental care utilization in South Korea, focusing on how private insurance influences the intensity and frequency of dental service use. By exploring its role in alleviating financial burdens and addressing unmet needs, the findings aimed to inform strategies to enhance accessibility and equity in dental healthcare.Materials and Methods: Data from the second wave of the Korea Health Panel Survey (2019–2021) were analyzed for 11,196 adults aged 19 or older. A two-part model assessed dental care utilization; Part 1 analyzed utilization as a binary variable, and Part 2 examined expenditures and visit frequency. Private dental insurance enrollment was the primary independent variable, with adjustments for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors.Results: Private dental insurance enrollees were more likely to use dental care services than non-enrollees (31.3% vs. 23.5%, P<0.001), with higher odds of utilization (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.18–1.89). Enrollees had higher total expenditures (β 1.40, 95% CI 1.04–1.89) and costs per visit (β 1.55, 95% CI 1.19–2.01) but similar visit frequencies. Subgroup analyses showed that men, urban residents, and older adults incurred higher expenditures.Conclusion: Private dental insurance is associated with increased dental care utilization and expenditures but not visit frequency. Socioeconomic and demographic factors such as income, gender, and urban residency significantly influence these patterns. These findings underscore private dental insurance’s potential to reduce financial barriers to care while highlighting persistent inequities that warrant targeted policy interventions.