Disabled Face 'Vulnerable' Dental Health in South Korea, Survey Finds

People with disabilities in South Korea face significant challenges with dental health, according to a new government survey. The 2025 Survey on Oral Health of Persons with Disabilities, conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), indicates that this population experiences substantially worse oral health outcomes than their non-disabled counterparts.

The study, the first of its kind at a national level, revealed that over 64% of children aged 1-9 with disabilities had experienced cavities, with an average of 3.2 decayed baby teeth per child. This figure is higher than the 48.3% cavity experience rate among the general child population in 2019. Furthermore, only 2.7% of disabled individuals aged 1 and above had received dental sealants, a key preventative measure, compared to 7.1% of the general population, with the rate dropping to a mere 0.3% for those with intellectual disabilities.

For permanent teeth in individuals aged 10 and older, the disparity widens. Over 95% of disabled individuals reported having experienced cavities, with an average of 9.3 decayed permanent teeth. This contrasts with the general population's rates of 90.4% experience and 7.3 teeth. Notably, individuals with intellectual disabilities reported the highest cavity rates (97.4%) and the most decayed teeth (11.4 on average).

Beyond cavities, the survey highlighted other issues. Disabled individuals had a higher rate of receiving dental prosthetics (65.6%) compared to the general population (34.3%). While 42.8% of disabled individuals reported brushing twice daily, only 32.5% brushed before sleeping, a significantly lower rate than the 53.4% observed in the non-disabled population.

Professor Kim Young-jae, the study's lead researcher from Seoul National University College of Dentistry, emphasized the critical need for action. "This survey confirmed that the oral health of people with disabilities is significantly more vulnerable than that of non-disabled people, with health inequalities particularly evident among those with intellectual disabilities," he stated. "Cavities are a lifelong condition requiring continuous management. Enhancing oral health projects and regularizing surveys are essential to secure an oral health safety net for people with disabilities."

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This survey confirmed that the oral health of people with disabilities is significantly more vulnerable than that of non-disabled people, with health inequalities particularly evident among those with intellectual disabilities. Cavities are a lifelong condition requiring continuous management. Enhancing oral health projects and regularizing surveys are essential to secure an oral health safety net for people with disabilities.