• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.563-572
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for elucidating the clinical experiences of nursing assistants working at dental clinics and for establishing the bases necessary for building a safe working environment for the staff at dental clinics. Methods: From March 28 to August 20, 2022, the study conducted in-depth interviews with nursing assistants working with dental hygienists in dental clinics. The collected data were analyzed using the phenomenological method. Results: The study analyzed the meanings associated with the dental clinical assistance work experiences of nursing assistants in dental clinics. A total of 98 semantic words and 9 sub-categories were extracted, which were ultimately categorized into 4 central meanings: 'imperfect reality', 'work without boundaries', 'putting oneself in someone else's shoes', and 'symbiosis'. Conclusions: The nursing assistants were exposed to an environment where they needed to perform delegated treatment procedures even when they lacked dental work competency. They recognized their gaps in learning and the necessity for designated roles as clinical assistants. Thus, it is necessary to review the allocation and expansion of the work roles of dental practitioners based on the practical and rational realities in dental practice.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to identify the current status of use and respective work scopes of dental hygienists and nursing assistants as perceived by dentists, thereby obtaining a model for how to efficiently use oral health assistance personnel. This study was based on a self-reported survey administered to a total of 126 dentists. The following findings were observed. Where competition among neighborhood clinics was relatively high, nursing assistants tended to be used as a resource to assist dental hygienists, whereas where it was relatively low, they were more likely to be considered to work as full substitutes for regular dental hygienists. Looking at the scopes of practice, dental hygienists were allowed to deal with matters of preventive care, oral health education, and health insurance claims. On the other hand, nursing assistants were allowed to be in charge of taking X-ray pictures from the outside and inside of mouth and keeping medical devices clean and safe. This study is expected to contribute to establishing more reasonable oral heath personnel structure design decisions.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.65-77
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• 2023

Background: The shortage of dental hygienists as assistant is a great concern to dental clinics, while dental hygienists are rather pursuing the role of oral hygiene control and preventive treatments which is the main role for dental hygienists in the United States. The dental hygienist and dental assistant system in the United States can be a reference in these discussions. Methods: Educational requirements for licensure and work areas for dental hygienists and dental assistants were investigated through the information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), American Dental Hygienists Association, National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), Dental Assistants Association of America (ADAA), and Dental Assistants National Board (DANB). Results: In the United States, each state has different systems, but in general, dental hygienists obtain licenses after completing 2~3 years of associate degree programs in dental hygiene after obtaining basic learning skills, and mainly perform tasks related to patient screening procedures, oral hygiene management and preventive care. Dental assistants can take the license test after completing a training course of 9~11 months to obtain a dental assistant certification. Additional expanded work typically requires passing state qualification tests, completing a training program, obtaining a degree, or gaining clinical experience for a certain period of time, depending on the state Conclusion: The scope of work of dental hygienists designated by the Medical Engineer Act and the Enforcement Decree in Korea includes both the work of dental hygienists and dental assistants in the United States, and if a dental assistant system like the United States is introduced to address the current shortage of dental assistants, institutional supplementation such as adjustment of the scope of work and expansion of the role of dental hygienists in oral hygiene management and prevention work is needed and in-depth discussion is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.9-19
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the state of conflicts among dental health care workers. A survey was conducted on 266 dental hygienists and nursing assistants who worked in dental institutions from September 12 to November 13, 2017, and SPSS(statistical package for the social science) version 20.0 was employed to analyze the collected data. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. The most common reason of the dental hygienists for turnover was working hours and heavy workload(24.6%), followed by pay (22.6%), conflicts with dentists(16.0%) and conflicts with colleagues (11.3%). The most dominant reason of the nursing assistants for turnover was pay(31.1%), followed by working hours(24.4%), heavy workload(17.8%), conflicts with dentists(15.6%) and conflicts with colleagues(8.9%). 2. The largest reason for unsuccessful communication with dentists was that heavy workload reduced the opportunity to communicate well(54.5%). The second biggest reason was that they couldn't communicate well though they had the opportunity(24.0%), and the third greatest reason was that they tended to lag behind dentists in terms of professional knowledge(16.9%). 3. The biggest reason for unsuccessful communication among the dental health care workers was that they didn't have a lot of chances to communicate well on account of heavy workload(41.0%). The second largest reason was the differences in professional knowledge(24.9%), and the third greatest reason was that they couldn't communicate well though they had the chance(23.7%). 4. The most dominant reason for conflicts with dentists was the difference in power(24.0%), followed by poor communication skills(22.1%) and a lack of mutual respect(18.1%). But the opinions of the nursing assistants were different from those of the dental hygienists, as they cited poor communication skills as the most common reason, which was followed by the difference in power and a shortage of understanding of each other's work. 5. The most common reason for conflicts among the dental health care workers was a shortage of communication and communication skills(22.9%), and the second most dominant reasons were a lack of mutual respect and poor understanding of each other's work(17.5%), followed by a lack of mutual respect(17.2%). 6. As to the ways of resolving conflicts with dentists, the most common case was making some mutual concessions to compromise (28.9%), followed by delivering opinions through the staff meeting (23.9%), resolving conflicts by candidly exchanging opinions(15.8%), avoiding each other in moderation(11.7%) and following the opinions or assertions of dentists(1.3%). 7. Concerning the conflict resolution methods among the dental health care workers, the most prevalent way was making some mutual concessions to compromise(36.4%), followed by resolving conflicts by candidly exchanging opinions(23.0%) and conveying opinions through the staff meeting(18.5%). 8. Regarding communication among the dental health care workers, the dental hygienists(3.53±.729) considered themselves to be better at communicating than the nursing assistants(3.29±.745) did(p<0.05), and the dental hygienists(3.45±.809) who thought there was respectful treatment among workers who were different in occupational categories found themselves to be better than the nursing assistants(3.21±.952) who had the same thought did(p<0.05). As a result of analyzing whether frequent job-related meetings occurred among the workers whose occupational categories were different, the dental hygienists(3.05±.975) perceived that there were more frequent meetings than the nursing assistants(2.67±.955) did (p<0.01).

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.348-354
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• 2011

Objectives: This cross-sectional study was performed in the Dental School of Prince of Songkla University to ascertain noise exposure of dentists, dental assistants, and laboratory technicians. A noise spectral analysis was taken to illustrate the spectra of dental devices. Methods: A noise evaluation was performed to measure the noise level at dental clinics and one dental laboratory from May to December 2010. Noise spectral data of dental devices were taken during dental practices at the dental services clinic and at the dental laboratory. A noise dosimeter was set following the Occupational Safety and Health Administration criteria and then attached to the subjects' collar to record personal noise dose exposure during working periods. Results: The peaks of the noise spectrum of dental instruments were at 1,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz which depended on the type of instrument. The differences in working areas and job positions had an influence on the level of noise exposure (p < 0.01). Noise measurement in the personal hearing zone found that the laboratory technicians were exposed to the highest impulsive noise levels (137.1 dBC). The dentists and dental assistants who worked at a pedodontic clinic had the highest percent noise dose (4.60 ${\pm}$ 3.59%). In the working areas, the 8-hour time-weighted average of noise levels ranged between 49.7-58.1 dBA while the noisiest working area was the dental laboratory. Conclusion: Dental personnel are exposed to noise intensities lower than occupational exposure limits. Therefore, these dental personnel may not experience a noise-induced hearing loss.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2019

Korean dental hygienists perform more tasks in dental clinics than are described in the law. The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual work of Korean dental hygienists in dental clinics using an observational study design. Two dental hygienists observed and recorded the work performed in 1 day from the time of commencement to the time of leaving work by 18 dental hygienists working in the dental clinic in a single area. Data management, prevention of infection, counseling, calculus removal, radiography, assistance of fixed orthodontic treatment, assistance of fixed prosthetic treatment, and preparation for implant surgery were recorded. Among the tasks that take more than 1 min, the most time-consuming tasks were document management, infection control, consultation, calculus removal, preparation for implant surgery, assistance of orthodontic treatment, and assistance of fixed prosthetic treatment. Korean dental hygienists are performing various tasks, such as infection control, dental hospital/clinic management, oral disease prevention, and dental treatment assistants.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.870-885
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• 2015

This article discusses accomplishments and historical implications of American missionary dentist W.J. Scheifley and the first Korean dental department, which was established in 1915 in Korea. W.J. Scheifley, with Christian service mind and mission as a dentist, applied to American Protestantic missionary dentist overseas. The dental department in the Severance Union Medical College introduced the scientistic dental education of America, facilitated research on the dental condition of the Korean people, and ran independent dental clinic. W.J. Schiefley criticised the profit-seeking attitude of Japanese dentists and denturist(="IPCHISA", in Korean pronunciation) and emphasized on the significance of Oral Health. He did all kind of dental treatments with advanced equipments like X-ray machine, and managed the collective oral health care for missionaries overseas. He trained medical students and assistants of the dentists with the goal of producing Korean dentists, but he failed due to the Dentist law introduced by Japanese colonial administration that interfered with producing Korean dentists. However, O.R. Avison's proposal of the establishment of dental schools stimulated the establishment of Kyungsung dental school, which provided the basis for the Dental department in the Severance Union Medical College becoming special training institution for Korean Dentists.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.127-140
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• 2012

This study involved an investigation of perception of dental hygienists based on a self-reported survey of a sample of 230health care personnel working at long-term care hospitals located in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. The primary objective was to provide basic data for establishing various policies related to building up a positive image of dental hygienists as a profession. The results were as follows. 79.1% of the respondents recognized dental hygienists as a profession. Among the titles for a dental hygienist, "teacher" was the most common with 47.4% of all. Female respondents and respondents who were able to discern between dental hygienists and nursing assistants were more likely to perceive dental hygienists positively than male respondents and ones who were not, respectively. Among social perceptions of dental hygienists was there a negative finding, that is, there was no appropriate title to address dental hygienists. This negative finding indicates that there is a vital need to enhance the perception of who are dental hygienists as a professionals level at the individual as well as institutional level.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 2021

Purpose : This study aims to assess the impact of the emotional labor on female dental clinic employees' intention to leave, and the moderating effect of internal marketing, reducing the intention to leave and providing basic data for an effective human resources management of dental clinics. Methods : The structured self-administered questionnaires were distributed to dental hygienists, dental assistants and other employees (including administrative staff and dental coordinators, but excluding dentists) working at a dental hospital and at dental clinics in the Busan and Gyeongnam area. This study used SPSS Windows version 18.0 program (Chicago, IL, USA) to perform frequency factor, reliability, correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses were performed using SPSS. Results : First, emotional labor had a positive effect on the intention to leave. Two components of the internal marketing, communication and employee welfare system, had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between employees' emotional labor and their intention to leave, while the education/training component of the internal marketing showed no moderating effect. Conclusion : Enhancement of communication and the employee welfare system will help dental care organizations reduce their employees' emotional labor and hence employees' turnover.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2009

As the quality of life Increases, most people are much interested in their health. The latest knowledge and concepts are newly employed and consistently extended in the field of medical facilities as well. The purpose of this study is to investigate space-structural features of dental clinics, to analyze space components in two aspects, the function and the moving path, to provide with base materials for interior design research, and, as a result, to contribute to the improvement of dental clinics. The visitor survey method was implemented in five dental offices haying opened since 2000. The survey results show that each area is distributed as follows; the consultation room is the largest, the waiting space is secondly largest, and the facility area of medical assistance and administration is the smallest. The consultation space can be designed as semi-opened or opened. Considering moving paths, each should not be too long for the communication between doctors and patients, and for the effective medical examination and treatment. The survey indicates medical assistants have the longest moving path because they fully utilize every space. Based on the survey results described above, more systematic in-depth studies should be performed in the future.