This study was conducted to investigate the association between oral health problems, such as speech and chewing difficulties, and the status of dental treatment in adults, with a focus on understanding the relationship. Utilizing data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the study analyzed a weighted sample of 13,998 adults aged 19 and above, excluding missing values. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were employed for the investigation. Regarding speech problems due to poor oral health, the group responding ‘not at all uncomfortable’ had a significantly lower rate of unmet dental care needs compared to the group responding ‘very uncomfortable’, with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 2.819 (P-value: <.0001). Similarly, for chewing problems, the group responding ‘not at all uncomfortable’ had a much lower rate of unmet dental care needs compared to the ‘very uncomfortable’ group, with an OR of 7.507 (P-value: <.0001). The results of this study indicate that as the severity of speech and chewing problems due to poor oral health increases, the rate of unmet dental care needs also increases. Particularly, a strong association was observed between dental treatment and the group responding ‘very uncomfortable’. Therefore, it is suggested that systematic and policy-oriented management measures are needed to improve dental care for groups experiencing high severity in speech and chewing problems. This study aims to provide foundational data for addressing and enhancing dental care for those experiencing serious speech and chewing difficulties.