Analysis of Dental Service Utilization and Dental Public Health Policy Among Thai Population in A Past decade

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to examine oral health policies and dental service utilization among Thai population in the past decade by analyzing the national household survey, Health Welfare Survey data in 2005 - 2015 of the National Statistics Office. Data were categorized by gender, age, region, type of services and health insurance scheme. Document of national oral health policies, implemented during that period, were also retrieved. Results showed that the dental utilization rate among Thai population was not significantly changed during the decade (range 8.11-9.47). The highest utilization rate was found in females, children at the age of 5-14 years, and people living in Bangkok. Private hospitals and dental clinics provided 35-44% of total visits, which corresponded with dental health personnel distribution. Dental utilization rate of people living in Bangkok was 1.6-2.0 times higher than those living in the Northeast region. The oral health policies implemented in a past decade contributed to increased number and better distribution of dental health personnel, buildup of dental service capacities, particularly in primary care setting, and therefore increased service utilization rate. In summary, national health policies play a role in improving dental utilization rate in certain target population group and building dental service capacity at primary care level, although the overall utilization drastically changed. However, monitoring progress as well as introducing interventions to reduce discrepancies of dental service utilization between regions are recommended.