Objectives: To examine oral health status and access to dental care among marriage-immigrant women (MIW) in South Korea (Korea). Materials and methods: We analysed patients’ demographic information and access to dental services through the ‘Family-Love Dental Program’ and compared them with Korean oral health surveillance data. The ‘Family-Love Dental Program’ resulted from a partnership among the Korean Ministry of the Gender Equality and Family, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, and Cigna Insurance Company (registered as ‘LINA’ in South Korea) to increase access to oral health for MIW from 2010 to 2016. Results: Over the programme duration, 1,944 MIW underwent dental examination and 1598 MIW received dental treatment. More than two-thirds of MIW (69.5%) receiving dental services were aged between 20 and 39 years. In 2016, the proportion of untreated dental caries among MIW was 54.8%, which was significantly higher than that of untreated dental caries among Korean women within the same age group (24.9%). Over the programme duration, 501 MIW (25.8%) underwent final restoration, and advanced care was provided at the Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Conclusion: MIW have a significantly higher number of dental caries than Korean women within the same age group. Future programmes and policies should consider specific barriers that will promote oral health parity for MIW and their children. © 2019 FDI World Dental Federation

marriage-immigrant women Oral health access to oral care

South Korea immigrant Republic of Korea Oral Health insurance human controlled study mouth hygiene dental procedure marriage health Young Adult Humans migrant male Emigrants and Immigrants female dental caries Article major clinical study adult gender parity Child