In order to collect the basic data for the development of the oral health policy in the Republic of Korea, the author had an interview and questionnaire to 3,131 people, among whom 2,333 people were urban dwellers and 798 people were rural dwellers, and they were divided into 6 groups by age. From the obtained data, the rate of persons who experienced the dento-facial discomforts, oral health facilities treating the experienced dento facial discomforts, annual dental expense paid by patient, the rate of persons experiencing dental prosthetic treatment for 10 years, the method of payment of dental fee, the average annual income of the households were analyzed and discussed. Annual expense of public oral health part, dental care benefits among Korean Medical Insurance, the amounts of dentifrices and toothbrushes sold in 1987 were surveyed by public reports.
The obtained results were as follows:
1. The rate of persons who experienced the dento-facial discomforts was 37.6%, that of urban dwellers was 39.4%, rural dwellers was 32.3%.
2. 50.9% had treated the experienced dento-facial discomforts at dental clinics, 6.9% had treated
at community-health center, 19.0% had taken drugs without taking any treatments, 27.7% had done no action.
3. The rate of persons who did not treat the experienced dento-facial discomforts due to not noticing the importance of treatments was 68.5%, due to high fee was 11.3%, due to having no money was 6.5%, and because they were too busy was 17,3%, because the clinics were too far was 2.1%.
4. Annual dental expenses per capita paid by patients in 1987 was 13,603 won.
5. The rate of experiencing ,dental prosthetics for 10 years among older than 18 years was 24,9%. - The rate of persons treating dental prosthetics at dental clinic in urban area was 76.8%, and by the unauthorized illigally in rural area was 68.8%.
6. Oral health expenditure in the Republic of Korea in 1987 was about 7:6 billion won, which was 0.73% of GNP. The rate of public expense to oral health care was 1,2%, and the rate of civil expense was 98.8%.
7. The rate of expense on preventive care was 9.4%, and the rate of expense on curative care was 90.6%.
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