• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate recognition level and practical application status of oral hygiene devices through making a survey of Seoul inhabitants. And survey was implemented in order to propose oral hygiene device for household health care activities. The following results were obtained by analyzing personal interviews of 347 commuting patients at two university hospitals and seven dental clinics. 1) The average length of toothbrush head was estimated as 22.3 mm and average changing cycle was 2.3 months. The user ratio of flat-headed brush was estimated as 51.9% and 46.7% were using fluoridated toothpaste. 2) Generally the ratio of toothpick users was higher than other device users. But the user ratio of dental floss was higher than toothpick in case of patients under orthodontic treatment. 3) The patients under orthodontic treatment were not familiar with handling orthodontic toothbrush. Though 45.8% among orthodontic patients recognized this type of toothbrush, only 25.4% of them knew how exactly to use it. 4) It was shown very low user ratio of oral hygiene devices that the patients who had periodontal problem, hypersensitive trouble, halitosis, implant or denture 5) The patients who had halitosis showed the highest user ratio of toothpick. The patients who had separation of teeth showed the highest user ratio of dental floss. The patients who're under orthodontic treatment showed the highest user ratio of interproximal brush and motorized brush. 6) In response to the most interesting dental disease, it's surveyed as follows; 60.3% of dental caries, 24.0% of periodontal disease, 14.8% of false occlusion and 0.9% of oral cancer. 7) Regarding the motivation of using those oral hygiene devices, 45% responded that it was because of recommendation by dental clinics. Among the negative answers, 38.6% responded that it was because of no selection guidance. 31.3% answered that they didn't use hygiene device because it's inconvenient. 12.0% answered that it's difficult to buy and expensive. 7.8% responded that they didn't feel significant improvement. 4.8% answered that dental hospitals and clinics didn't even introduce those hygiene devices. Therefore efficient campaign for those hygiene devices over all Korea nation should be developed and education program must be prepared for each case of patients in every dental hospitals and clinics.