Analysis of Financial Burden and Dental Service Access Behavior among Migrant Workers in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze dental service access behaviors and the financial burden of migrant workers in Chiang Mai province. The study compared differences across health insurance schemes, health service groups, and service types using quantitative analysis of secondary data from the Health Data Center (HDC) for fiscal year 2025. The results showed that 2,971 migrant workers accessed dental services. Most participants were Myanmar nationals (74.1%) and general laborers (91.3%). Service access was predominantly for basic dental care (2,822 persons), with tooth extraction being the most common procedure (71.1%), followed by fillings and scaling. Access to specialized dental services was low (323 persons), primarily for impacted tooth surgery. On average, workers visited once a year for treatment. Regarding the financial burden, the median total price was 490 baht, while the median actual payment by workers was only 30 baht. Approximately 89.7% of the sample did not bear excess costs due to welfare support. However, health insurance schemes were significantly associated with the financial burden (p < 0.01). Workers without insurance (cash-paying) faced a higher burden than those with Social Security or Migrant Health Insurance. Additionally, tertiary hospitals and specialized procedures were key factors significantly increasing costs. Recommendations include promoting comprehensive health insurance coverage to reduce inequality and individual financial burdens. Furthermore, proactive systems focusing on oral health promotion and preventive care, should be developed to reduce the necessity of extractions and long-term treatment costs.