• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.819-829
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting the effective demand of workers for dental treatment in a bid to provide some information on the improvement of oral health. Methods : The subjects in this study were 255 workers who were engaged in the pharmaceutical industry. A self-administered survey was conducted, and the collected data were analyzed by a spss(statistical package for the social science) win 12.0 program to find out their demographic characteristics, oral health awareness, oral health behavior and factors for the choice of a dental institution. Results : 1. Concerning the level of oral health awareness, 47.0 percent were at a low level(0 to three scores), and 35.2 percent were at an intermediate level(four to six scores). 2. As to oral health behavior involving a daily mean toothbrushing frequency, they brushed their teeth 2.65 times per day on the average. The most widely utilized oral hygiene supply was mouth rinse. Regarding oral health status, 53.7 percent weren't in good dental health, and just 23.0 percent got a dental checkup on a regular basis. 45.8 percent of those who didn't get a dental checkup cited time constraints as the reason. 26.0 percent received oral health education, and 91.4 percent were aware of the necessity of a corporate incremental dental care system. 3. Marital status, age and the reliability of dental institutions made differences to their choice of a dental institution. 4. As for the relationship between oral health awareness and the factors for the choice of a dental institution, oral health awareness had a statistically significant positive correlation to the reliability of dental institutions. Conclusions : The above-mentioned findings suggest that oral health education enables workers to have a correct knowledge on oral health, to change their own oral health behavior and to make the right choice of a dental institution in consideration of their oral characteristics. They should be urged to get a regular dental checkup not to develop chronic oral diseases so that they couldn't have to receive first-aid dental treatment. To promote the oral health of workers, oral health care personnels available should be utilized, and the incremental dental care system should be more vitalized to cut down on their effective demand for dental treatment.