SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN UNMET DENTAL CARE NEEDS IN GREECE: EVIDENCE FROM EU-SILC 2024
Author(s)
Athanasios Chantzaras, PhD1, Ioannis John Yfantopoulos, II, D.Phil.2.
1University of the Peloponnese, Athens, Greece, 2Professor of Health Economics, University of Athens, Ekali, Greece.
1University of the Peloponnese, Athens, Greece, 2Professor of Health Economics, University of Athens, Ekali, Greece.
OBJECTIVES: Greece reports the highest level of unmet dental care need in the EU. This study examined the socioeconomic, demographic and health determinants of systematic unmet dental need (need left unmet because of cost, waiting time, or distance) among Greek adults.
METHODS: We analysed EU-SILC 2024 microdata for the Greek population aged ≥16 years. Systematic unmet dental care need was defined as self-reported dental care not received because of cost, waiting time or distance. Survey-weighted descriptive estimates and survey-adjusted Poisson regression were used, reporting incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS: In 2024, 15.3% of the Greek population aged ≥16 years reported unmet dental care need, compared with 4.6% in the EU-27. Systematic barriers accounted for 12.9%, with cost being the dominant reason. Prevalence declined from 19.6% in the lowest income quintile to 5.2% in the highest and was higher among persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion (19.4% vs 10.6%). In the adjusted model (n=19,128; F(25,935)=26.46; p<0.001), higher income was independently associated with lower prevalence of systematic unmet need (IRR=0.66, 0.42 and 0.22 for the third, fourth and fifth quintiles, respectively, versus the lowest). Compared with single-person households, prevalence was lower among couples without children (IRR=0.84) and couples with children (IRR=0.73). Moderate and poor/very poor self-rated health were associated with higher prevalence (IRR=1.42 and 1.47). Regions outside Attica showed lower adjusted prevalence. Tertiary education was associated with higher adjusted reporting (IRR=1.35), possibly reflecting greater recognition of dental care needs.
CONCLUSIONS: Greece faces exceptionally high unmet dental care needs, largely reflecting systematic access barriers, especially cost. The burden is concentrated among lower-income groups and individuals with poorer health, indicating that dental care remains insufficiently protected within the health system. Policies expanding financial protection and reducing affordability barriers are needed to improve equitable access to dental care.
METHODS: We analysed EU-SILC 2024 microdata for the Greek population aged ≥16 years. Systematic unmet dental care need was defined as self-reported dental care not received because of cost, waiting time or distance. Survey-weighted descriptive estimates and survey-adjusted Poisson regression were used, reporting incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS: In 2024, 15.3% of the Greek population aged ≥16 years reported unmet dental care need, compared with 4.6% in the EU-27. Systematic barriers accounted for 12.9%, with cost being the dominant reason. Prevalence declined from 19.6% in the lowest income quintile to 5.2% in the highest and was higher among persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion (19.4% vs 10.6%). In the adjusted model (n=19,128; F(25,935)=26.46; p<0.001), higher income was independently associated with lower prevalence of systematic unmet need (IRR=0.66, 0.42 and 0.22 for the third, fourth and fifth quintiles, respectively, versus the lowest). Compared with single-person households, prevalence was lower among couples without children (IRR=0.84) and couples with children (IRR=0.73). Moderate and poor/very poor self-rated health were associated with higher prevalence (IRR=1.42 and 1.47). Regions outside Attica showed lower adjusted prevalence. Tertiary education was associated with higher adjusted reporting (IRR=1.35), possibly reflecting greater recognition of dental care needs.
CONCLUSIONS: Greece faces exceptionally high unmet dental care needs, largely reflecting systematic access barriers, especially cost. The burden is concentrated among lower-income groups and individuals with poorer health, indicating that dental care remains insufficiently protected within the health system. Policies expanding financial protection and reducing affordability barriers are needed to improve equitable access to dental care.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
HPR257
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory, Methodological & Statistical Research
Topic Subcategory
Health Disparities & Equity, Public Spending & National Health Expenditures
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas