Comparative Analysis of Dental Caries in Low-Income Children Under 12: Evidence from the United States, South Korea, and Japan

We compared recent evidence on dental caries among low-income children <12 years in the United States, South Korea, and Japan. Low-income children show substantially higher caries prevalence and untreated decay in all three countries, driven by access, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. Policy actions to expand preventive care and reduce access barriers are needed.