• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral hygiene status before and after the dental hygiene care performance to patients by the dental hygienists. Methods : Subjects were 55 adults visiting to dental clinics in Chungnam. The patients agreed to undergo a dental hygiene care performance. A skilled dental hygienist provided dental hygiene care performance including periodontal status, halitosis and oral hygiene status. Results : The periodontal pocket depth was compared before and after the performance. The depth dropped from 4.02 mm to 2.81 mm, and the value of halitosis dropped from 45.78 bbv to 35.76 bbv. The O'Leary index of the patients dropped form 49.37 to 32.84, and all the differences were statistically significant. Conclusions : Proper use of oral hygiene supplies and regular dental checkup can prevent periodontal diseases. This study will provide the useful information of the effective application of dental hygiene care performance.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-91
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to contribute to the development of an oral hygiene care program for patients with dementia by understanding the oral care status and oral health knowledge of care workers and caregivers with regard to patients with dementia. Methods: For about two months from May to June 2018, a survey of care workers and caregivers working in long-term nursing homes and elderly-specialized nursing hospitals was performed, and 442 people were selected for the final analysis. The frequency and percentage were calculated to understand the oral care status and oral health knowledge regarding patients with dementia, and an independent t-test was conducted to determine the difference between the elderly oral health knowledge of care workers and caregivers. Multiple regression analysis was also carried out to examine factors affecting elderly oral health knowledge. Results: With respect to the factor of oral health education in elderly oral health knowledge, oral health knowledge was shown to be highest when participants responded that education was unnecessary (p<0.001), and regarding the will to participate in oral health education, oral health knowledge was highest when participants responded as having no desire to participate (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that a standard manual should be developed for the accurate and qualitative management of oral hygiene care tasks performed by care workers and caregivers who are in charge of oral care for patients with dementia in order to provide continuous and systematic oral care.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.457-467
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• 2020

Objectives: This study confirms the current status of visiting oral health-care services for the elderly to draw policy implications for revitalization of the visiting oral health care services in the future. Methods: First, a survey was conducted on health centers about the current status of the elderly visiting oral health-care service and how to revitalize it. Next, the number of oral hygiene services provided to the elderly was checked in the long-term care insurance system. Results: Oral health education (100%) was the most common practice in visiting oral health-care service for the elderly, and the most difficult thing in providing services was the lack of dental hygienists (38.9%). The status of oral health-care services in the long-term care insurance system for elderly revealed that the total number of service claims has been confirmed to be zero since the introduction of the system. Conclusions: Despite the existence of a system that provides elderly visiting oral healthcare services, to revitalize it, the law must be amended to secure a dental hygienist as the main agent of the activity and to further take responsibility for autonomous authority and performance.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.499-506
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• 2021

Objectives: This case - study was conducted to assess the oral health status change of the elderly through visiting oral care interventions based on a community health care project. Methods: Professional dental hygiene treatment and oral health education, including brushing using interdental toothbrushes and sponge brushes, were performed on three senior citizens who received home visiting oral health care benefit. Results: The subject's periodontal conditions improved including gingival inflammation and bleeding. The gingival color tured pink by controlling the dental plaque. Conclusions: Visiting oral health care contributed to the improvement of oral health of the elderly. Therefore, based on the characteristics of the elderly with various systemic diseases, it is necessary to discover various cases that can perform professional and customized visiting oral health care programs.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2021

Background: The elderly in long-term care facilities tend to have a diminished oral health status, with a high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease, as reduced cognitive function, joint mobility, and gait ability hinder the performance of oral hygiene. To improve the oral health of the elderly at long-term care facilities, it is necessary to have precise guidelines for oral health care and assessment; however, such guidelines are not readily available. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop an oral care assessment tool with verified reliability and validity. Methods: The participants in this study were 100 elderly patients at a care facilities and 10 clinical dental hygienists. Collected data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, content validity index, and inter-rater reliability, as well as the analyses of intra-class correlation coefficient. Results: After a review of relevant literature, a preliminary questionnaire comprised of seven questions related to the evaluation of oral health was formed. After revising and supplementing the questions through a content validity test, a total of nine questions were selected. Conclusion: The novel assessment tool developed for the present study is anticipated to allow analyses of the level of problems related to oral health care before routine and professional care. Moreover, regular oral health status check-ups will enable the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2023

Objectives: This case study was conducted to assess the changes in the oral health status of older individuals with hearing and visual impairments through home oral health care based on community care. Methods: The participants were two older adults with hearing and visual impairments. Through home visits, an oral health intervention program, including oral hygiene care and training on strengthening of oral function, was conducted once a week for 5 months. Dental hygienists performed special oral health interventions such as dental plaque control through individual tooth brushing and interdental care, training on strengthening of intraoral and extraoral muscle function, and denture care for the individuals with visual-hearing impairments. Results: The overall periodontal health status and oral muscle function improved in older adults with hearing and visual impairments. In the case of the visually impaired individuals, changes in the oral health status were oral mucosal moisture (30.1 and 37.2 points before and after intervention, respectively), salivary secretion (3.5 and 4.0 cm before and after intervention, respectively), and maximum tongue pressure (20.5 and 26.2 kPa before and after intervention, respectively). Changes in the oral health status of the hearing impaired individuals increased from 28.3 points before the intervention to 38.4 points after the intervention, and the maximum tongue pressure increased from 1.85 kPa to 23.5 kPa after the intervention. Conclusions: Oral health intervention activities contributed to improving the periodontal health and oral function of older adults with hearing and visual impairments. To improve their overall and oral health, it is necessary to prepare measures to activate customized oral health intervention programs.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.527-537
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the practice of oral hygiene behaviors and oral health status of long-term care facility residents and to analyze the factors related to salivary hemoglobin level which can predict active periodontal disease. Methods: From 30th October 2015 to 7th January 2016, a questionnaire was provided to 63 participants and their dental plaque and saliva samples were collected to assess the levels of salivary hemoglobin and dental plaque acidogenicity. In order to analyze the factors related to salivary hemoglobin level, multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results: Toothbrushing was most frequently performed by the participants themselves (98.4%) and toothbrushing was performed after eating breakfast (81.3%). 68.8% of participants reported brushing their tongue. 35.9% of participants perceived having bad teeth, and 87.5% had high dental caries activity. The percentages of participants with hyposalivation and ${\geq}0.20{\mu}g/ml$ salivary hemoglobin level were 45.3% and 59.4%, respectively. The salivary hemoglobin level was significantly higher in the group in which stimulated salivary flow rate was ${\leq}0.70ml/min$, dental plaque acidogenicity was superior, and perceived having bad teeth (p<0.05). There was also a tendency for the salivary hemoglobin level to increase with age (p<0.05). Conclusions: Oral health status of the long-term care facility residents was still not improved, and the characteristics of salivary volume and dental plaque were important factors affecting salivary hemoglobin level. Therefore, it is necessary to operate an oral hygiene intervention program by oral health professionals in such facilities in order to provide residents with effective oral care aligned with their respective needs. Furthermore, it is necessary for caregivers to complete mandatory oral health education to improve the oral hygiene status of the long-term care facility residents.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2019

Introduction: This study intended to identify the current oral health care status and demand of care workers for oral health education. Methods: A survey was distributed to care workers working in 11 nursing homes for older people located in the Chungcheongdo Province. Of those distributed, 217 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. To analyze the collected data, a frequency analysis, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) were performed using SPSS version 18.0. Results: The demand for an educational course on the 'Management of Oral Health Care for the Aged People' had a score of 4.22 points(full marks were 5.0 points), whereas the score for the necessity for control of oral health was 4.29 points. The control of oral health for the aged people suffering dysphagia scored 4.27 points, whereas the control of oral health for older people who have dementia was 4.27 points. The score for a course on the nutritional control for aged people having difficulties in masticating foods was 4.27. Conclusion: It is clear that the development of educational courses and standardized manuals for care workers on aspects of oral health care is necessary. Therefore, it would be desirable to develop institutional infrastructure for dental hygienists to educate care workers on oral health.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.727-734
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess the oral health care of the elderly in long-term care facility on caregivers' behaviors. Methods : Cross-sectional study in a cluster sample of 171 caregivers recruited from 17 facilities located in the Province of Gangwon. The Questionnaire was consisted of 16 items contained oral hygiene care, denture care, oral health education and general characteristics(Chronba's ${\alpha}$=0.87). Using SPSS WIN 12.0, descriptive statistics and chi-square test were conducted to examine the subjects general characteristics, the status of oral health education and denture care. Results : 1. The mean age of care givers was 42 years and 88.9% education experience rate was found. 2. Above 70% of them was found in daily oral hygiene care after every meal. They used toothbrush and toothpaste, they keep the toothbrush properly. 3. The denture care was conducted by most of care givers, containing proper storage. But three of ten care givers was cleaned denture by toothpaste or used water only. It was severe at the care givers didn't received oral health education(p<0.05). Conclusions : The contents of oral health education for care givers should contain the denture care(time and the reason shouldn't use toothpaste). Further large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to determine professional oral health care and to develop evidence of the dental hygiene practice for the elderly in long-term care facilities.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1025-1036
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the status and opinions of professional oral health care performance in oral cancer patients. Methods: Seven National University Dental Hospitals and the National Cancer Center in Korea surveyed the medical personnel in charge of oral health care for oral cancer patients. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions, including the status of expert oral health care education and performance for oral cancer patients, etc. A total of 47 questionnaires were retrieved, and the collected data were used in PASW Statistics 23.0 to perform frequency analysis, cross-analysis, and kruskal Wallis tests. Results: A survey of oral health care education found that 29.8% of the medical personnel had received education. The most performed of professional oral health care was found that applying fluoride by dental hygienist, treating stomatitis by dentist, and wiping mouths with sponge by nurse. The assessment of self-performance has shown that applying fluoride by dental hygienists has a statistically significant difference. Only 37.8% of oral health care education for patients was conducted. Most recognized that oral health care in oral cancer patients was important, but it is difficult to provide care due to lack of performance personnel and time, opportunities for performance personnel to be educated. The improvement was found to require an increase in the number of performance personnel, placement of professionals, and practical training to enhance performance capabilities. Conclusions: For oral health care of oral cancer patients, continuous education for medical personnel, establishment of oral health care manual and medical system, research on oral health care of oral cancer patients and public relations campaign will have to be activated. Development of expert care manual analysis and evaluation tools for oral health care in oral cancer patients in the future and development of standardized curriculum will be necessary.