Dental Care for Seniors: Mobile Dentistry Now Available
A dental chair has been installed in a long-term care facility in South Korea, marking a potential turning point for elderly and disabled patients who face significant barriers to accessing dental care. The development, anticipated with the full implementation of the ‘Medical and Welfare Regional Integrated Care Act’ this month, allows for in-home dental visits, a practice common in Japan but historically difficult to establish in South Korea.
Currently, an estimated 70 to 80 percent of elderly individuals with dementia require immediate dental treatment, according to the Korean Dementia Oral Health Association. Approximately 30 percent of people with disabilities report unmet dental care needs. These figures underscore the challenges faced by vulnerable populations in obtaining essential oral healthcare.
The fresh legislation explicitly includes oral healthcare as part of regional integrated care services. Though, a key obstacle remains: the absence of established fee structures to support in-home dental visits. Despite the legal framework, the financial mechanisms to incentivize dentists to provide this service are still under development.
Japan, which entered an aging society in the early 2000s, serves as a model for South Korea. Tokyo-based 80-year-old Parkinson’s patient A, for example, receives regular dental care at home from a team comprised of a dentist and dental hygienist. This team provides services including oral examinations, inflammation treatment, denture checks, and hygiene management. The Japanese system features designated fees for basic visits, oral hygiene management, dental hygienist home visits, and additional charges for patients with disabilities.
South Korea enacted a similar law in December, adding a guangual management item to the long-term care institution evaluation criteria, which is expected to increase investment and attention to oral care for the elderly in nursing homes.
The implementation of the ‘Medical and Welfare Regional Integrated Care Act’ on March 27th has spurred calls for a pilot program to address the logistical and financial hurdles of expanding in-home dental services. Advocates emphasize the demand for a system similar to Japan’s, tailored to the South Korean context, including establishing appropriate insurance coverage and fee schedules. The Daily Dental reported on March 18th that a systematic pilot program is urgently needed to improve oral health for those covered by the new law.
As of January 2026, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has designated 135 long-term care medical centers to provide services including home visits, nursing care, and social welfare counseling. However, the availability of dental services within these centers remains to be seen.