초록
Objectives : To investigate the knowledge and recognition level of fluorine by teaching career among class teachers, who are primarily responsible for oral health education, despite lack of expertise in oral health, by playing a model role for students through continuous contacts with them, and provide basic elementary data about accurate knowledge and how to correctly use fluorine remarkably effective in preventing dental caries. Methods : A self-administered survey was conducted with 539 teachers at 21 elementary schools in Jinhae City from September 1 to October 15, 2010, drawing the following conclusions. Results : 1. As for the channel for acquiring knowledge of oral health, the highest frequency was found in health programs for respondents with less than 9 years of career, in dental clinics for those with 20 to 29 years of career, and in PR booklets for those with 10 to 19 years and 30 years and longer of career. 2. Use of fluorine-containing toothpaste and fluorine spread is very effective and effective in preventing dental caries got 64.9%, 72.2%, 72.3%, 77.7% and 54.0%, 63.1%, 62.2%, 69.7%, respectively, among elementary school teachers with less than 9 years, 10 to 19 years, 20 to 29 years, and 30 years and longer of career. 3. Intake of fluoride and toothbrushing with fluoric solution is very effective and effective in preventing dental caries got 33.3%, 40.1%, 39.5%, 55.3% and 50.0%, 54.9%, 48.8%, 69.7%, respectively, among elementary school teachers with less than 9 years, 10 to 19 years, 20 to 29 years, and 30 years and longer of career. 4. Use of fluoric tablets is very effective and effective in preventing dental caries got 32.9%, 36.0%, 36.1%, 47.3%, respectively, among elementary school teachers with less than 9 years, 10 to 19 years, 20 to 29 years, and 30 years and longer of career. 5. Most of the elementary school teachers knew the fact that fluorine increases dental resistance to cavity and prevents bacterial growth but gave incorrect responses to properties of becoming basic nutrients or inducing recalcification. Conclusions : Various types of application of fluorine during the elementary-level childhood experiencing the most frequent dental caries will be very useful in improving oral health in the future. It is necessary to enable class teachers to get correct recognition of fluorine through supplementary and job training based on technical knowledge and various educational materials so that they, who are directly responsible for health management through continuous contacts with students, can understand how to correctly use fluorine and get accurate knowledge.