• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2017

Objectives: Dental caries and periodontitis are major oral bacterial infections associated with dental plaque. Infection and inflammation play a role in carcinogenesis, and a significant link has been found between some highly prevalent oral and dental diseases and some types of cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cancer and oral health among Korean adults. Methods: Data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to analyze the incidence of cancer according to oral health. Demographic and socioeconomic statuses and oral behavior of the participants was analyzed using complex chi-square tests. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between a high DMFT index and cancer by calculating the 95% confidence intervals. Results: In total, 6,450 case-control subjects were included. Significant difference was observed in the DMFT index, but not in periodontal diseases, between the cases and controls. The odds ratio for cancer was 1.80 (95% confidence interval: 1.18 to 2.73) in the high-risk group. However, no significant difference was observed after adjusting for age, education level, and income. Conclusions: The results provide potential evidence of a significant association between cancer and oral disease.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the socioeconomic status and oral health of adults. Methods: Data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018) were analyzed, and 13,199 adults aged 19 years or older were selected as study subjects. Various oral health indicators were used to analyze the effect of socioeconomic status on oral health. Disparities in oral health according to socioeconomic status were analyzed using the complex sample chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between income level, medical aid, and all oral health indicators, which indicated that the lower the income level, the lower the oral health level (p<0.001). Furthermore, all oral health indicators displayed statistically significant differences, with the exception of the prevalence of dental caries and education level. The lower the education level, the lower the oral health level (p<0.001). Therefore, the oral health level of adults presented significant differences according to different socioeconomic status indicators. Conclusions: To prevent oral health inequalities, the government and local governments need to intervene not only in the field of health care but also in the social determinants. Additionally, concerted efforts should be made to eliminate oral health disparities by improving policies and systems.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.25-32
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• 2024

Purpose: This study utilizes big data from the 8th (2021) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine first, the relationship between chewing discomfort in the elderly and some systemic diseases and second, whether oral diseases and oral health problems are related to systemic diseases. Since this may have an impact, we aim to provide basic data to facilitate the expansion and emphasize the importance of integrated health management education. Methods: Original data from the 8th (2021) National Health and Nutrition Survey, conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were analyzed using SPSS Version 21.0 (IBM). A complex sample frequency analysis was conducted to confirm the general and health-related characteristics of the study subjects, and a complex sample cross-analysis was conducted to determine chewing discomfort according to both general and health-related characteristics. Complex sample multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect on chewing discomfort. Results: In order to analyze the factors that affect chewing discomfort, the general characteristics that showed significant differences in chewing discomfort were adjusted for age, personal income, education level, basic livelihood security, high blood pressure, subjective health status, and subjective oral health. It was found that the condition had a statistically significant effect on chewing discomfort. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that high blood pressure, subjective health status, and subjective oral health status affect chewing discomfort; hence, measures such as developing and operating programs to improve national oral health are needed. We hope that our study will be used as basic data for research into chewing discomfort and systemic diseases in the elderly.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.74-90
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• 2021

Background: It is getting important to improve the oral health status of the elderly because oral health status may affect their health status of the whole body. In this respect, we aimed to explore the association of oral health status and behavior factors with self-rated health status by sex. Methods: Using the data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for health surveys and oral examinations (2016-2018), we analyzed a total of 3,070 people aged 65 or older (men: 1,329; women: 1,741). Our dependent variable, self-rated health status, was divided into two groups: not good (bad and very bad) and good (very good, good, and fair), whereas our independent variables of interest were oral health status and behavior factors. In addition to descriptive analysis and the Rao-Scott chi-square test, reflecting survey characteristics, we conducted hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for socio-demographics and health status and behavior factors. All analyses were stratified by sex. Results: The proportion of people having 'not good' self-rated health was 36.5% in women but 24.5% in men. In a model adjusted for all covariates, the self-rated health status showed significant association with the self-rated oral health status. For example, in men, the risk of having 'not good' self-rated health was high in people having 'poor' (odds ratio [OR], 5.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.34-12.03) self-rated oral health status and in those having 'fair' (OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.68-9.70) in comparison with those having 'good' self-rated oral health status. Dental status regarding speaking difficulty seemed to be very important in influencing self-rated health status. For instance, in women, compared to people having 'no discomfort' speaking difficulty, the risk of having 'not good' self-rated health was high in people having 'not bad' (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.14-2.24) and 'discomfort' (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.30-2.47) speaking difficulty. The covariates significantly associated with the risk of having 'not good' self-rated health were: physical activity, chronic disease, stress, and body mass index in both sexes; health insurance type and drinking only in men; and economic activity only in women. Conclusion: Oral health status and behavioral factors were associated with self-rated health status among the elderly, differently by sex. This suggests that public health policies toward better health in the elderly should take their oral health status and oral health behaviors into account in a sex-specific way.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Stroke is the second cause of death worldwide, although the survival period is increasing after the occurrence of stroke, severe physical disability is caused with aftereffect. Oral inflammation is not limited to the oral cavity, it can cause malignant changes in other tissues and organs. In previous studies, we confirmed the relationship between tooth loss and stroke due to periodontal inflammation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between oral health and stroke such as oral hygiene behavior, tooth loss and periodontal disease among Korean adults over 40 years of age. This study was analyzed using the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. A total of 3,389 adults over 40 years of age were analyzed as final subjects. Socioeconomic statuses and oral health status was analyzed using a complex sample analysis technique. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship of oral health and stroke, and 95% confidence intervals were computed using SPSS. When the prevalence of stroke according to oral hygiene behavior was checked, the prevalence of strokes was lower in subjects who had a lot of brushings per day and subjects who used oral hygiene products (p<0.05). The risk of stroke was 2.17 times (95% confidence interval, 1.43~3.28) higher in the group with less than 19 remaining teeth, but it was not statistically significant as a result of adjusting for age and sex, income level, education level, drinking and smoking (p>0.05). Loss of teeth was found to be associated with the risk factor of stroke. Therefore, loss of teeth due to periodontal disease is an additional issue that should be considered as a risk factor for stroke.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2018

Objectives: To investigate the association of problematic Internet use with oral health behaviors and oral health status in a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from the 2010 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (73238 Korean adolescents; mean age $15.06{\pm}1.75years$; age range, 12-18 years) were used. Problematic Internet use was measured using the Korean Internet Addiction Proneness Scale for Youth-Short Form. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess oral health behaviors and oral health status of adolescents. Results: Problematic Internet users were less likely to brush their teeth frequently [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.59; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.56-0.63] and at school after lunch (AOR=0.89; 95% CI=0.83-0.94) as well as more likely to perceive their oral health to be poorer (AOR=1.63, 95% CI=1.54-1.72) and experience oral symptoms (AOR=1.75, 95% CI=1.65-1.86) compared to usual Internet users. Conclusion: The study results indicate that problematic Internet use may adversely affect the oral health of Korean adolescents. Thus, oral health screening and Internet-based education are needed for adolescents experiencing problematic Internet use.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 2017

Objectives: I examined the health and oral health status of elderly people living alone compared to elderly people living with their families by using data (2014) from the 6th Two-Year Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: Among 1,454 health survey respondents aged 65 years and over who participated in the 6th Two-Year Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014, 311 were elderly people living alone and 1,143 were elderly people living with their families. Results: In terms of socio-demographic characteristics, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high especially in women and when the subjects' age, education level, and income level were low. In terms of oral health status, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high when elderly people thought that their subjectively viewed health was poor and the frequency of drinking and exercise was low. In terms of oral health status, the percentage of elderly people living alone was high among elderly people who did not have good oral health in their subjective view and did not get oral examinations for a year and had a lot of difficulty chewing. Conclusions: Family support or additional social support for elderly people who live alone should be considered to promote the healthy lives of elderly people.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.69-82
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between general characteristics and oral health behavior, oral health knowledge, and oral health literacy for adult workers. Methods: This study chose some adult workers located D City by convenience sampling method, and accepted those who understood the purpose of the study and agreed with a survey as subjects. The final study subjects were 297 except 24 with unsound questionnaires among a total of 321 questionnaires. The contents of a survey were demographic characteristics, oral health behavior, oral health knowledge, and oral literacy, and the survey was done by a self-administered questionnaire. Results: In the verbal oral health literacy distribution based on REALM standard of the subjects, a scale of 7-8, 45-60 points by score was the highest with 62.0%. In average monthly household income and oral health knowledge level of general characteristics, oral health literacy was statistically significant, and was statistically significant according to oral health literacy, monthly income of house hold, and marital status as well, and was statistically significant in oral health knowledge and oral health literacy level according to oral health behavior and in the oral health knowledge level depending on a regular checkup. And In experience existence and nonexistence of oral health education and understanding and misunderstanding of dentistry and dental health education, and main body of the decision of dental treatment, verbal oral health literacy of oral health knowledge and oral health literacy was significant. It can be seen that based on correlation among general characteristics, oral health knowledge level, verbal oral health literacy, and functional oral health literacy, there is a correlation among gender and education level, age and average monthly income, and age and marital status. Conclusions: This study presented the need for oral health literacy along with the oral health knowledge of oral health behavior affecting adult workers' oral health, and tried to establish the connection among them. Accordingly, it is thought that an improvement plan of oral health literacy for the prevention and promotion of adult workers' dental disease in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.175-185
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• 2014

This study conducted a secondary analysis using original data of performed by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs to determine factors affecting oral health-related quality of life and mental health in the elderly. The research subjects were 1,217 people who were over 65 years old and completed an oral examination and oral questionnaire survey. The results were as follows. First, mental health problems arise in people with an oral health status designated as 'bad' or when they feel 'very uncomfortable' chewing or speaking. Second, the quality of life decreases as problems with chewing and speaking increase. The results reveal that to reduce problems of mental health(stress, depression, suicide) and to enhance the quality of life, there is a need to develope diverse programs for preventive treatment and oral health education. What is the most important is consistent policy support.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2020

Background: This study investigated the status of oral health promotion activities for adult workers in public health centers and industrial dental offices and provided basic data for the model development of oral health promotion program for adult workers in Korea. Methods: A questionnaire was developed separately according to the person who in charge of the oral health promotion activities in public health centers nationwide and dental hygienists working in 20 industrial dental offices. This survey was conducted through postal survey and consisted of 29 items and 35 items respectively, including 19 common items for general information, oral health promotion program status and opinion. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS ver. 23.0. Results: We analyzed the data of 147 public health centers (57.9%) and 9 industrial dental offices (45.0%). A workforce with a lack of practice was the biggest barrier to oral health promotion activities for adult workers. However, both groups showed high intention for the practice of adult worker's oral health promotion activities. Also, they showed willingness to work together in an organic partnership to perform their roles (94.4% and 77.8%, respectively). Regarding the scope of cooperation in the implementation of the industrial oral health promotion activity linked to the public health center, dental hygienists of industrial dental offices responded that they could coordinate necessary matters and schedule management. Conclusion: The development of an oral health promotion program aided by the relationship between public health centers and industrial dental offices is essential for the oral health promotion of adult workers. The possibility of cooperation between the abovementioned centers was confirmed through this study. In a long-term perspective, it would be necessary to identify a method to institutionalize industrial dental hygienists for the provision of continuous oral health care in workplaces.