A study of Gyeonggi-do dentists’ opinions on the model of registered dentists for the elderly

Purpose: This study aimed to examine Gyeonggi-do dentists’ opinions on the model of registered dentists for the elderly. Materials and Methods: An online survey was conducted from June to August 2025, among members of the Gyeonggi-do Dental Association. Of the 4,690 members, 392 dentists participated (response rate = 8.4%), and 387 samples were analyzed after excluding 5 responses with inappropriate answers. The questionnaire was constructed with general characteristics, service items, and willingness to participate. Frequency and cross-tabulation were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 26.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA), with significance at <i>α</i> = 0.05. Results: Half of the respondents were in their 50s and most worked in dental clinics. The perceived needs for every service item were high; oral examination, professional oral hygiene care, and scaling showed the highest necessity within each category. Patient history review and professional oral hygiene care were the greatest necessity in dentists with longer practice experience, whereas preventive service was rated higher by women and those with the least experience (p < 0.05). Most respondents suggested that individuals aged 65 years or older be the best target group, and 87.6% expressed willingness to participate. No significant differences were found in general characteristics for these questions (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Gyeonggi-do dentists recognized the importance of a preventive-oriented approach and the shift toward long-term care in the model of registered dentists for the elderly. It is necessary to include perspectives from various stakeholders, such as local government officials, to develop feasible strategies for implementation in future studies.