Assessing Spatial Accessibility to Pediatric Dental Clinics Using the Geographic Information System

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accessibility of pediatric dental clinics and quantitatively compare the regions with the best and worst accessibility to pediatric dental clinics in South Korea using the geographic information system. Seoul city showed the highest density of pediatric dental clinics, while Gyeongbuk and Jeonbuk provinces showed the lowest density. Seoul city had a service area ratio of 100% in all districts on a 10 km basis. In Gyeongbuk and Jeonbuk provinces, more than half of the districts had a service area ratio of 0%. In Seoul, the average distance from elementary school to the nearest pediatric dental clinic was 3.45 km. The average distance values were 43.66 km and 40.57 km in Gyeongbuk and Jeonbuk provinces, respectively, which were 12.66 times and 11.76 times longer than the average distance in Seoul city.

Multilevel Analysis on Spatial Distribution and Socio-Environmental Factors of Dental Caries in Korean Children

“…The number of dentists per 100,000 population (p = 0.0276) and pediatric dental clinics per 100,000 popu- Access to healthcare for pediatric patients is crucial owing to their shorter visit intervals compared to adults, which is influenced by factors such as rapid caries progression, tooth exchange, and growth [22]. Healthcare access encompasses an individual's ability to pay for healthcare and the availability of healthcare personnel and facilities.…”

“…The phenomenon of an imbalance in the supply and demand of dentists between regions has gradually worsened and has become a social phenomenon [24]. In addition, a study on the accessibility of pediatric specialty dental clinics by Lee and Ra [22] revealed significant differences in the density of pediatric dental clinics and service area between large cities such as Seoul, Gyeonggi, Busan, and Gwangju, and small cities such as Gyeongbuk and Jeollabuk-do, indicating that there are many underserved areas in small cities.…”