Association between preventive dental care and subjective oral health among adolescents based on only-child status

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the association between preventive dental care utilization and subjective oral health among adolescents, as well as to investigate whether only-child status moderates this relationship.Methods: Data from 48,188 adolescents who participated in the 21st (2025) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed.Complex sample cross-tabulation and general linear models were used to examine the association between preventive dental care utilization and subjective oral health, including interaction effects based on only-child status.Results: Only-child status was not independently associated with subjective oral health; however, a significant interaction effect was observed between only-child status and preventive dental care utilization (Wald F=2.836, P=0.024).Conclusions: These findings suggest the need for tailored oral health policies that consider the environmental characteristics of families.Furthermore, oral health education and counseling targeting parents may play an important role in improving the oral health of adolescents.