• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2016

Noise is unwanted sound that is the reason of the stress and hearing loss. The current study attempted to estimate whether the noise of dental laboratory affected stress and pure tone audiometry (PTA) of dental laboratory technicians (DLTs) using heart rate variability, air and bone conduction audiometry. The age, heights, and weights of DLTs were resembled control. Standard deviation of normal to normal interval such as stress resistance and normalized HF of DLTs were significantly decreased, but heart rates, normalized LF, and LF/HF ratio of DLTs were significantly increased compared with control. In air conduction audiometry of DLTs, significant increments of thresholds encountered in 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz in the right ears and 125, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz in the left ears. Thresholds of bone conduction audiometry in both ears were significantly increased in 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. The findings in this study provide that stress and hearing loss observed in noise-exposed DLTs at dental laboratory. Therefore, proper safety precautions should be carried out at dental laboratory.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.417-428
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• 1972

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2019

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of occupational hazards and personal protective equipment use among dental hygienists (DHs). Methods: A total of 271 self-administered questionnaires were obtained from 280 DHs working at dental hospitals or clinics in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. Results: The occupational hazards included work involving dust (94.1%), volatile substances (86.0%), noise (97.0%), and light-curing units (96.7%). The proportion of dental hygiene tasks that participants perceived as harmful were 42.4%, 51.7%, 9.2%, and 31.4% in the same order as above. The proportion of participants who used dust-proof masks during work involving dust was 1.1%. Those who wore gas-proof masks and gloves for work using volatile substances were 0.7% and 31.2%, respectively. Participants who used goggles for work involving light-curing units were 31.0%. None of the participants used ear plugs for work involving noise. A total of 22.9% of the participants recognized the Material Safety Data Sheet, while 79.7% had never been educated about harmful work environments. Conclusion: When compared to exposure status and perception of occupational hazards, the level of protective equipment use was very low. Extra measures to increase DHs' use of personal protective equipment are necessary.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2009

In this study, recognized building-related health symptoms of various workers in dental college hospitals are surveyed and analyzed in order to improve indoor environment at dental college hospitals. We conducted a questionnaire survey for 682 workers in three dental college hospitals located in Seoul from Sep. 20 to Oct. 8, 2004. Most workers at dental hospitals complained about noise, poor ventilation, dusty environment, and air dryness. SBS symptoms score for subjects was 1.43${\pm}$0.74 (often feel) and major symptoms was throat, CNS, eye, and nose symptoms. Recognized Building-related health symptoms are significantly related to tasks, working experience, job-satisfaction, indoor environment recognition index, medical history, used to special material, and number of dental unit chair. Also working places and ventilation are significantly related to the symptom. Based on the results, it can be said that special dental treatment causes undesirable environment such as noise, dust, and bad odor. It is also related to recognized building related health symptoms reported by workers at dental hospitals. So managemental efforts are needed to improve indoor environment which is related by dental treatment.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.379-390
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to improve the working conditions of dental technicians, through survey for working conditions related to perform one's duty, the extent of personal exposure to substances hazardous and complaint rate and factor of job stress and subjective symptom on musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: Using four types of structured questionnaires: social and demographic factor; the actual conditions of working space; working conditions; and characteristics of dental technicians, respondents filled in the questionnaires and the results were analyzed statistically. Results: The evaluation of comfort in working place found that satisfaction level on indoor noise was the lowest with 2.6 on a five-point scale and privacy space followed 2.8 point. In reasons for dissatisfaction with job, over workload ranked the highest by 25.4% and role overload had the highest by 39.5% in job stress factors. Based on the results, we could draw conclusion that dental technicians were unsatisfied with role overload and heavy workload a day. In reasons for musculoskeletal symptom prevalence, long-patient work was the highest by 24.1%. It was thought to cause dental technicians need deep procession and long-patient work due to the nature of their job. Conclusion: In conclusion, noise reduction and privacy space are required to improve job efficiency of dental technicians. In addition; we need to think of ways to increase the job satisfaction with adequate rest while deep procession and long-patient working.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.141-156
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• 2001

This study was performed to identify the occupational diseases in the dental technicians working in Korea, and to elucidate the main related affecting factors for the occurrence of the occupational diseases. The research was carried out using a mail questionnaire and data collection was done for two months from April 15, 2000. The questionnaires were delivered to 1000 dental technicians working at 250 dental laboratories which were chosen among the total 1330 dental laboratories in south Korea. And 763 questionnaires were collected, then 739 questionnaires were used for a logistic and a multiple regression analyses. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. The occupational diseases in the dental technicians included pneumoconiosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, hyposmia, allergic dermatitis, eczema, contagious dermatitis, central nervous disorder, dysfunction of finger, vertebral disorder, dysfunction of interphalangeal joint, ophthalmitis, auditory dysfunction, otitismedia, optic trauma, and bum. 2. The main related affecting factors for the occurrence of the occupational diseases in the dental technicians were elucidated as follows: On the ccurrence of chronic bronchitis, vibration of equipment and job career were affected positively. On the ccurrence of asthma, job career and career on current working part were affected positively, but exhaust ventilation, work hour were affected negatively. On the occurrence of eczema, career on current working part and vibration of equipment were affected positively, but personal protective equipment, local exhaust ventilation, isolation of gas source were affected negatively. And eczema was occurred more in methyl methacrylate work than in any other work part. On the occurrence of finger dysfunction, vibration of equipment and noise of work place were affected positively. But personal protective equipment, local exhaust ventilation, isolation of dust and gas source were affected negatively. But finger dysfunction was occurred more in metal polishing than in any other work part. On the occurrence of auditory dysfunction, noise of work place were affected negatively. The results obtained in this study can give a valuable information for a prevention of the occupational diseases in the dental technicians working in Korea, and for keeping them in healthy. This study also can be helpful for a researcher who is aiming at a identification of occupational diseases and a elucidation of related affecting factors in a similar occupation.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.283-288
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was conducted to measure the radiation exposure and image quality of various cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) machines under common clinical conditions and to analyze the correlation between them. Materials and Methods: Seven CBCT machines used frequently in clinical practice were selected. Because each machine has various sizes of fields of view (FOVs), 1 large FOV and 1 small FOV were selected for each machine. Radiation exposure was measured using a dose-area product (DAP) meter. The quality of the CBCT images was analyzed using 8 image quality parameters obtained using a dental volume tomography phantom. For statistical analysis, regression analysis using a generalized linear model was used. Results: Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) noise and modulation transfer function (MTF) 10% showed statistically significant correlations with DAP values, presenting positive and negative correlations, respectively (P<0.05). Image quality parameters other than PMMA noise and MTF 10% did not demonstrate statistically significant correlations with DAP values. Conclusion: As radiation exposure and image quality are not proportionally related in clinically used equipment, it is necessary to evaluate and monitor radiation exposure and image quality separately.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.339-346
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality, diagnostic efficacy, and radiation dose associated with the use of a cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector, compared to charge-coupled device (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor(CMOS) detectors. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalographs of a phantom (type 1) composed of synthetic polymer filled with water and another phantom (type 2) composed of human skull macerated with polymer coating were obtained with CdTe, CCD, and CMOS detectors. Dosimeters placed on the type 2 phantom were used to measure radiation. Noise levels from each image were also measured. McNamara cephalometric analysis was conducted, the dentoskeletal configurations were assessed, and a subjective evaluation of image quality was conducted. Parametric data were compared via 1-way analysis of variance with the Tukey post-hoc test, with a significance level of 5%. Subjective image quality and dentoskeletal configuration were described qualitatively. Results: A statistically significant difference was found among the images obtained with the 3 detectors(P<0.05), with the lowest noise level observed among the images obtained with the CdTe detector and a higher subjective preference demonstrated for those images. For the cephalometric analyses, no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed, and perfect agreement was seen with regard to the classifications obtained from the images acquired using the 3 detectors. The radiation dose associated with the CMOS detector was higher than the doses associated with the CCD (P<0.05) and CdTe detectors(P<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the evaluated parameters, the CdTe detector is recommended for use in clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.381-390
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between job-stress and temporomandibular joint(TMJ) disorder in dental hygienists. This study will provide the basic data to improve the working condition and the quality of life. Methods : The subjects were 229 dental hygienists at general hospitals in Seoul, Korea. A self-reported questionnaire was filled out from May 20 to June 20, 2013. The questionnaire consisted of 4 questions of demographic features, 11 questions for TMJ symptoms and 5 questions for job stress. The data were analyzed by frequency analysis, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and multiple job-stress logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 21.0. Results : During the last six months, 53.3%(122 persons) of the dental hygienists had TMJ disorder symptoms including joint noise(40.6%, 93 persons), TMJ pain(31.4%, 71 persons) and limitation of TMJ(21.8%, 50 persons). Job-stress is divided into two ranges including high stress group(4.3-5.0 points) and low stress group(0.0-3.6 points) in TMJ pain and joint noise(p<0.05). TMJ pain was closely related to low back pain, pelvis pain and tension headache arising from the uncomfortable working posture. Conclusions : It is necessary to prevent the job stress in the dental hygienists by the improvement of working condition, emotional stability, and frequent postural change.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2002

Air abrasion technology can prepare enamel and dentin for bonding, similar to etching by acidic gels and solutions. Longer treatment can excavate pit and fissures, preparing the tooth for immediate placement of bonded resin materials. Although not appropriate for every clinical situation, the air abrasive technology minimizes heat, vibration and bone-conducted noise associated with conventional means of caries removal since the cutting is accomplished by air pressure. Also, patients treated with the air-abrasion technology rarely request anesthesia. Air abrasion technology was more effective in treating early carious lesions and stains compared to lesions where caries had already progressed to produce soft dentin and the strong air stream and noise caused by the evacuation system was a major discomfort to pediatric patients, and the experience and skillfulness of clinician should be required for accurate and proper tooth preparation.