Abstract
Preventive oral health care and education are essential for soldiers’ health and military readiness. This study investigated oral health behaviors, dental service utilization, oral health perceptions, and educational needs among enlisted South Korean Army soldiers during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 313 enlisted soldiers who visited military dental clinics in Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, from March 24 to April 16, 2021. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s χ
2
tests were performed. Overall, 60.4% of participants did not use oral care products, mainly because they did not perceive a need for them (62.9%). Furthermore, 71.9% had not undergone routine dental examinations, 63.6% had not received dental treatment after enlistment, and 91.4% had no oral health education experience during military service. Video-based education was the preferred method (40.6%), and halitosis prevention and management was the most preferred topic (20.4%). Preferred educational methods did not differ significantly according to age, military rank, educational level, or smoking status (all
P
> .05). Military rank was significantly associated with perceived adequacy of oral care time (
P
P
= .048). Routine dental examinations, dental treatment experience, and oral health education experience showed no significant differences according to participants’ general characteristics. Preventive oral health services and education were insufficient among enlisted South Korean Army soldiers. Tailored programs reflecting soldiers’ needs and preferred learning methods should be developed and evaluated.