노인 임플란트 급여화 전후의 치아발거빈도

Objectives: This study aims to determine whether National Health Insurance dental implant coverage increased instances of tooth extraction in older adults. Methods: Three periods were identified to analyze dental implant uptake in older adults-pre-coverage, intermediate-coverage, and post-coverage. Data for analysis were obtained from two sources. Frequency of tooth extraction and dental treatment data were obtained from the Healthcare Bigdata Hub. Data on the dental health status of older adults were obtained from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: In 2019, the National Health Insurance supplied 10.2 dental implants per 100 older adults in Korea. The frequency of tooth extractions increased slightly after dental implant coverage for older adults, but statistically, the number of missing teeth was significantly reduced. Dental caries indices in older adults were also exacerbated during this period. The DMF rate and DMFT index for older adults increased significantly. However, the illness rate due to dental caries was also reduced. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of periodontal diseases. Based on the National health data and the frequency of related services, the slight increase in tooth extractions may be due to increased utilization of dental services. Conclusions: The authors could not find clear evidence that dental implant coverage increased the frequency of tooth extraction in older adults.