Professional dental care and survival rates in long-term care recipients: A cohort study of 1 459 163 individuals in South Korea

Objectives: To determine the dental care pattern and survival rates of participants who received long-term care (LTC) and a matched control cohort in South Korea. Background: Global ageing trends and the development of superaged societies pose healthcare challenges. South Korea's LTC system aids those with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Despite the link between oral health and systemic diseases, providing dental care in LTC facilities often reflects social neglect. Methods: We identified 1 459 163 individuals eligible for LTC insurance in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from July 2008 to 2015 (LTC cohort) and 1 459 544 individuals matched through propensity-score matching (matched cohort). The LTC recipients were further categorised into subgroups based on their care type (institutional, home or mixed care). Population of utilising dental services and the average number of dental visits were counted in each cohort, and the survival rate of the LTC cohort was determined according to dental utilisation. Results: Population of utilising dental services increased steadily in all cohorts except for institutional care, with the highest utilisation (around 30%) observed in the matched cohort. Lower independence in LTC cohorts was associated with lower dental utilisation: 18-27% for home care, 12-18% for mixed care, and 10% for institutional care. The survival rates in the LTC cohort were significantly lower than in the matched cohort (P <.0001), with 28.1% survival in LTC vs 59.3% in the matched cohort. Conclusion: Long-term care recipients experience social neglect for oral care, while higher survival rates were observed in those utilised dental services.