• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to corroborate factors affecting dental technicians recognition states of their job consciousness. Methods: Self-administering questionnaires were distributed directly to some 200 registered female dental technicians in metropolis, small & medium-sized cities, farming and fishing villages of whom 153(76.5%) female dental technicians and female students responded in December, 2009. Information on recognition states of female dental technicians and female students in department of dental technology possible occupational mind and other general characteristics was gathered. Analysis of data was processed by use of X2-test and multiple regression analysis. Results: The recognition states of occupational satisfaction were higher in female students than female dental technicians(p<.05). They were observed that between respondents with more than five years of work and less than five years of career(p<.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in recognition values of female dental technicians occupational satisfaction between high and low groups of internal characteristic of their position and all ceramic part(p<.05). Conclusion: For woman dental technicians, the most predictive variables for recognition values of occupational satisfaction were an age, between groups, which of part and career(p<.05). Finally, this result suggests the facts that in order to achieve self-realization through the work experience, women herself should get rid of the dichotomous diagram and should change the consciousness of traditional role normals.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.153-174
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• 1997

I choosed two hundred person of national female dental technician at random and researched the questional of 143 persons. So I came to the following conclusions. Most of them were in charge of porcelain part in dental laboratory and were mostly doing build-up of Porcelain part. When they choosed laboratory work, generally they inclined to choose their relatives and professor's introduction and because of their home they worked there. In these questions, laboratory work is the proper job for a women. Most of them thought that it was fairly good job. Many maiden ladies wanted to keep engaging in dental laboratory after they got married. In these questions, they want to open dental laboratory in the future, 40% of female dental technician want to do. They have alternative and positive ideas about dental prosthesis work.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.73-87
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• 1993

This study was performed to determine respiratory manifestations of 105 male and 16 female dental technicians who were resident in seoul. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was 19% on cough, 40% on sputum, 33% on coryza, and 36% on dyspnea without past cardiopulmonary disease. The number of subjects who was abnormal ventilatory function among % predicted value for FVC(<80%), FEV1(<80%) and $FEV_1$/FVC(<75%) was 18(22%). Indices FVC and $FEV_1$ among smokers were 3 to 6% lower than that of nonsmokers.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.417-433
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• 2010

Purpose: This study evaluated the manpower planning of dental technicians. Methods: Methods : Survey was conducted regarding subject's general characteristics, characteristics of dental technician's occupational view and working conditions, and reason to enter into branches of the public health enter. The survey sample consisted of 323 dental technicians (221 male/ 102 female). Survey was conducted for one month from August 1 to September 1 in 2010. Following results were obtained. Results: 1. Regarding general characteristics of the subjects, there was a slight male predilection with 68.4%. Subjects in their 40s occupied the highest proportion of 32.2%. Majority of subjects worked in the big cities (71.5%). Favored working places were dental laboratory (57.6%) and dental hospital or dental clinic (19.5%). Although no position is available in the public sector such as public health center or health care civil servant, 9.3% preferred working in the public health center. Public sector is more favored than 2-year technical colleges or dental supply and equipment companies. In respect to education, 57% of the subjects graduated college. 67.8% were married. Subjects who specialize in the porcelain or all-ceramic were 57.9%. With regard to current position, head of the dental laboratory was most common. 2. Following occupation characteristics were found. Economic reason took the highest proportion when deciding their occupation (39.9%) followed by gaining social experience (36.5%). Majority of the subjects (76.5%) wanted to work as dental technicians until their retirement. 71.5% pursuit to become a manager of the dental laboratory. 76.1% agreed on opening a dental technician position in the public health center. Regarding an authority to lead developing the dental technician position in the public sector, majority of the subject chose ministry of health and welfare (35.6%) and Korean dental technologist association (34.7%). Employment (average, 30%) and turnover rate (average, 36.5%) of dental technology college graduates ranged from 40% to 60%. Most important factors for the employment were practical experience (41.2%) and competency (34.4%). With regard to job satisfaction, so-so as 46.7% and satisfactory was 42.7% 3. In respect to the reason for opening a position in the public health center, 'It is needed to continue denture rogram for elderly patients' obtained the highest score (4.14 point). 'Institutional devices are required to open a position for dental technicians as a public healthcare provider' received high score (4.11 point). 4. Concerning the working conditions, 'professional knowledge is required' received the highest score (4.23) followed by 'too short maternity and parental leave' (4.21). 5. Relationship between general characteristics of the subjects and favor of working in the public health center was investigated. Significant differences were found according to the current and favored working area, favored occupation, education level, marital status, and specialty. Working in the public health center was favored by following subjects: working in mid- or small-sized cities (4.16 point, p<0.05); PhD degree-holder (4.59 point, p<0.01). 6. Among general characteristics of the subjects, significant difference of working conditions was found in the following factors: gender; working areas; favored working areas; favored working positions, and education level. Majority of subjects favored working in big cities and currently work in big cities although satisfaction was comparatively low (3.75 score). 7. Future plan to work in public health center was evaluated according to occupational characteristics. Subject's intention to work in the public healthcare center was significantly affected by opening of dental technician position, leading authority, average turnover rate, and factors affecting employment. Working in the public health care center was favored by the following subjects: Dental technicians who actively supported opening of the dental technician position (4.34 point, p<0.001); subjects who thought the Korean dental technologist association is responsible for the opening of positions in the public sector (4.26 point, p<0.001); and subjects who thought that attitude and character are important for the employment (p<0.001). 8. Concerning difference of working conditions according to the occupational characteristics, significant difference was demonstrated by factors such as a reason to choose to be a dental technician, work plan, pursuing position, responsible authority, average employment rate, and job satisfaction. High standard of working conditions was required in subjects who selected to be a dental technician for the leisure time after work (s.05 point, p<0.01), who planted to work until their marriage (4.25 point, p<0.001), and who pursuit to be a manager (3.98, p<0.05). 9. In respect to influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.068 and age affected the working condition with significant difference according to the pvalue. 10. Regarding influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.335 and work plan, opening of dental technician position in the public sector, and responsible authority had significant influence over the subject's intention to work in the public health center according to the p-value. 11. With regard to the influence of general characteristics on the advancement to public health centers, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.091 and reason to choose to be a dental technician, work plan, and responsible authority significantly affected subject's working conditions. Conclusion: Korean society is becoming a super-aged society according to several statistics. As aged population is rapidly increasing, national health insurance plans to cover denture for senior citizen over 75 years old from 2012. Therefore, dental technicians are urgently needed in the public health centers all over the nation. Many subjects in this study planed to work until their retirement and recognized dental technician's expertise. Ministry of health and welfare and Korean dental technologist association should co-operate each other to prepare foundation and institutional devices for dental technicians to advance into the public health center. This will improve oral health of the population. This study showed urgency of medical facilities and services which meets increasing number of aged population and welfare of the population.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.103-120
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• 2006

In this study, we investigated the growth rate on the basis of the sex and the year among the subjects of the licensed dental technicians from the year 1970 to 2003 in Korea. In line with this investigation, this study aims to provide a basic material with regard to the state of dental technician workforce by sex and to suggest a need to reassignment of workforce by sex in accordance with the specific job description. The results of the study are as follows; First, among the licensed dental technicians from 1970 to 2003, males came to 11,589 and females, 5,976, which shows the number of males are 1.9 times higher than that of females. To put the mean sexual composite from 1970 to 2003, male was 82.9% and female 17.1%, indicating the number of males are 4.8 higher than that of females. Second, Of the mean increasing rate until the year 2003 in contrast to 1970, male was about 351 and female was about 181, which shows the number of males increased 1.94 times higher than the females. Comparing to the mean increasing rate of the last year, female came to 25.56% and male 10.73%, which reveals that the females were about 2.4 times higher than the males. In the case of the growth rate, females increased by 1,196,20 times and the males, 26,41. As a result the growth of females are about 45.3 times higher than the males. Third, in the case of the growth rate from 1980 to 2003, females came to 47.85 times and males 9.16, which shows the growth rate of the females was about 5.2 times higher than the males. In contrast to the year 1987, the growth rate until 2003 shows that the females came to 5,13 times and the males 2.70, which indicates the growth rate of females was about 1.9 times higher than males. Fourth, Compared to the year 1990, the growth rate until 2003 shows that females came to 3.40 times and males 2.03 indicating the growth rate of the females was about 1.7 times higher than males. In contrast to the year 2000, the growth rate till 2003 shows that females was 1,34 times and males 1.15 times increased. Fifth, the ratio of sex by the year among the licensed dental technicians is as follows; ratio of male to female in 1970 was 91.2 to 1. In 2003 the ratio came to 2.0 to 1. The number of growth by sex in 1970 came to 24.0 males to 1 female. But the figure was equalled in 2003.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-54
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• 2009

The purpose of this thesis is to address the imbalance between supply and demand of dental lab technicians and to propose its solutions by analyzing the improvement of employment rate of graduates of dental technology schools in Daegu area and the supply and demand of the technician workforce. Preliminary and full-scale surveys were performed from Aug. 10 to Oct. 10 in 2008 on 150 junior students of dental technology schools who finished their on-the-job-training and 150 dental technicians who were working for dental laboratory in Daegu by self-assessment questionnaire. Followings are the findings of this study. First, regarding the gender of the dental technicians, 32.7% of respondents were female 67.3% were male. Concerning age, respondents younger than 29 years-old occupied the highest percentage(39.3%). With respect to the lab technology school they graduated, DaeguHealthCollege took the largest proportion of 87.3%. With regard to interpersonal relationship at the school, 58.0% of respondents felt their relationship 'smooth'. Second, about the motive of choosing to be a lab technician, the biggest proportion of the respondents(34.7%) replied that 'because it is professional'. Regarding the degree of satisfaction about the profession, 'so-so' was the answer with the biggest percentage(51.3%) followed by 'satisfied'(32.0%) and 'unsatisfied'(16.7%). It showed that respondents were generally satisfied with their major. Third, regarding relevance of on-the-job-training with 'preparation for the employment', highest percentage of both students and lab technicians(50.0%) replied 'so-so'. With respect to 'necessity of practical education', highest percentage of the students and lab technicians replied 'relating didactic education in college to the real world' with 52.7% and 40.7% respectively. With regard to 'the aim of on-the-sport-training', 'practical training of didactic education' was chosen by 54.0% and 47.3% respectively. Fourth, with regard to the 'types of college education advantageous for the employment', both students and lab technicians groups chose 'practical training' with the highest percentage. Concerning 'helpfulness of clinical training on employment', students answered 'so-so' and 'helpful' by 50.0% and 42.7% respectively and dental technicians replied similarly by 50.0% and 46.0% respectively. Fifth, with regard to the influence of financial factors on the supply and demand of dental technician(question #1), 68.0% of respondents agreed that 'salary plays key role in the supply and demand of the work force'. Concerning the question about working condition, respondents requested better working environment. With reference to interpersonal relationship at the laboratory, respondents replied that interpersonal relationship affects the duration of the employment it was found out that there were many conflicts with colleagues or dental office. Sixth, regarding the satisfaction about their profession according to the characteristics of the respondents more respondents were 'satisfied'(10.30 points) with their profession and 'unsatisfied' were 9.47 points and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.05). According to the findings of this study, practical education on campus and on-the-job-training are as important as didactic education at class due to the characteristics of dental technology major. It was found that more practical training is related to higher employment rate. Therefore, efficiency of on-the-job-training by college education should be increased raise employment rate of the graduates and reduce the unemployment. Up-to-date information needs to be promptly delivered and future vision should be presented to the students to raise their satisfaction about the profession. In addition, to reduce dental technician's frequent change of their workplace after facing with the reality of the profession after graduation, related organizations should make an effort to present better future than now.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2019

Purpose: This provides basic data for improving educational effectiveness by selecting and applying basic vocational competency applicable to dental technology's sub-major curricula by determining and researching dental technicians' awareness levels concerning the basic vocational competency's importance. Methods: 170 dental technicians working in Daegu, Korea were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire between 9 January 2018 and 23 February 2018. Results: 1. The highest level of the basic vocational competency elements by the awareness levels of importance in dental technology laboratories was shown in the occupational ethics, followed by technological skills, interpersonal skills, self-development levels, problem-solving skills, information skills, resource management skills and skills for understanding groups, communication skills, and mathematical skills. 2. Female dental technicians put relatively higher importance on writing documents and managing time, while males stressing on basic statistics. 3. Dental laboratory CEOs and managers put high values on resource management skills, while head technicians valuing information skills more. 4. The awareness levels concerning the basic vocational competency importance in some dental technology fields did not match those of the dental technology laboratories in the fields of porcelain, crown and bridge, and orthodontics. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that the awareness levels concerning basic vocational competency's importance in some fields of dental technology differ from those of dental technology laboratories. Developing a basic vocational competency curriculum, it seems necessary to find ways to increase educational effectiveness by selecting and applying the basic vocational competency for the respective fields of dental technology.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.35-45
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• 2009

This survey study was conducted on dental technician school students in April 2008 to investigate the effects of smoking on oral health. 110 male and 39 female students were surveyed and cross analysis was performed to examine the relationship between oral health status and smoking-related and oral health maintenance characteristics of smoking and non-smoking group. T-test and one-way ANAVA was used to analyze the average difference verification of two independent samples(smoking group and non-smoking group) and followings are the results. In general characteristics, 74 male students(74.7%) and 25 female(25.3%) students smoked and the percentage of male students were higher in smoking group. Regarding class grade, 2nd-year students(37 students, 37.4%) and 1st-year students(18 students, 36.0%) took the highest percentage of smoking and non-smoking group, respectively. Concerning the experience of drinking, smoking group consumed more alcoholic beverages(94 students, 94.9%) With respect to the frequency of between-meal consumption, respondents who eat between-meal once or twice smoked more. Respecting preferences of sweet food, respondents who enjoyed sweet food smoked more. Concerning smoking characteristics, many of smoking group had been smoked fo a long time(two to five years) and it was worrisome. About the amounts of smoking, 50 respondents(52.6%) of smoking group smoked 20 cigarettes a day with the highest proportion. With regard to the awareness of harmfulness, 70 respondents(70.7%) considered smoking as very harmful and showed that smoking group were aware of its harmfulness but it was habitualized. Respecting smokers in family members, father was more common as smokers(58 respondents, 58.6%) in family and showed that the influence of father. Main reasons of poor periodontal health were alchoholic consumption, smoking, and oral parafunctional habit(57 respondents, 56.7%) in smoking group and neglect of oral hygiene(21 respondents, 42.0%) in non-smoking group. With regard to the scaling, 80 respondents of smoking group(80.8%) didn't received scaling and showed that more oral health education was required. Regarding the periodontal status, non-smoking group was $1.26{\pm}0.44$, respondents who received scaling was $1.43{\pm}0.50$, respondents who regularly floss was $1.50{\pm}0.52$, respondents who brush more than three times a day was $1.38{\pm}0.49$ and had better periodontal health. Bleeding during tooth brushing was more frequent in smoking group ($1.51{\pm}0.70$). Regarding mouth order, non-smoking group was $2.34{\pm}0.62$, after scaling was $2.02{\pm}0.76$, patients who regularly floss was $1.50{\pm}0.52$, patients who brush more than three times a day was $1.81{\pm}0.87$. Concerning the experience of dental caries treatment, smoking group was $1.20{\pm}0.40$, patients who do not floss was $1.30{\pm}0.46$, patients who brush once a day was $1.29{\pm}0.45$. With regard to dental prosthesis, non-smoking group was $3.78{\pm}1.62$, patients who received scaling was $1.43{\pm}0.50$, patients who regularly floss was $1.40{\pm}0.51$, patients who brush more than three times a day was $1.24{\pm}0.43$. From these results, oral health education and smoking has correlation and more oral health education needs to be carried out to educate students with non-health related majors about harmfulness of smoking on oral health. Also more study are required.