• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.200-205
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of dental hygienists in Japan. The study explicated the history, core curriculum, National Examination for Dental Hygienists, work roles of dental hygienists, and workplaces of dental hygienists. This study was based on the government policy report on dental hygienists and the information published by each public institution. The latest statistics presented by the institutions were collected through official websites. The employment information of graduates from Hiroshima University was analyzed based on actual field study. The results of the study revealed that social demand for dental hygienists has steadily increased and policies and education have been revised accordingly. The work roles of dental hygienists have expanded to meet the needs of the treatment and those of public health fields. In line with major policy changes, the educational period has been extended from 1 year to 3 or 4 years, while the mandatory credits for graduation have been established. Licensing examinations were being performed by the local governments since 1948 due to the different situations of dental hygienists in different areas. In 1992, they were converted into a single national examination. The work roles have expanded from assisting dental treatments to health guidance, home care, and perioperative care. Consequently, the number of dental hygienists has increased, especially in healthcare facilities for the elderly. Dental hygienists perform various roles. However, the most essential role is to provide the best oral care services to the patient. The expected role of dental hygienists has expanded in alignment with public healthcare needs and support for the elderly. The government and universities are expected to bring about improvements such as diversifying the channels of education and establishing policies to respond to growing patient needs by cultivating excellent dental hygiene professionals.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.104-110
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• 2022

Purpose: This study analyzes the difficulty and discrimination of the paper-based test (PBT) and the computer-based test (CBT) according to item response theory, focusing on the National Dental Technician Examination. Methods: A mock test was conducted from September 15 to 23, 2020, and the final 179 (1 out of 180 absentees)people were the subjects of this study. Both frequency analysis and factor analysis were performed. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 18.0 (IBM) and jMetrik programs. The significance level was set to 0.05. Results: The difficulty of the mock test was more easily responded to in CBT. It was also predicted that the CBT could better measure the ability of test takers than the PBT could. Conclusion: The difficulty, discrimination, and reliability of the questions were not affected by the examination method through the mock test. The feasibility of a future change to the CBT was confirmed by the National Dental Technician Examination.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.185-195
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to opportunity of oral examination and positively utilizing the oral-health educational method of being preferred on the basis of the contents promote workers' oral health. Methods : This study carried out questionnaire research by self-administrated method, which was selected by convenience sampling method, from February 9th to March 6th, 2009 targeting 237 workers where are located in Gunsan city of Jeollabuk-do Province. Results : 1. Workers' interest and recognition of importance in oral health were high, and were low in subjective oral-health knowledge level, on the other hand. 2. Workers were indicated to be high in the response rate of work-site oral examination and, on the other hand, to be high in the dissatisfied rate at work-site oral examination. 3. As for work-site oral examination, the workers were indicated to positively recognize participation in work-site oral-health education along with high necessity. 4. Workers were indicated to prefer the most a method of lecture such as dentist along with contents in prevention and curing method of periodontal disease. Conclusions : An efficient result is thought to be probably obtained given offering an opportunity of oral examination and positively utilizing the oral-health educational method of being preferred on the basis of the contents with the highest preference, in order to promote workers' oral health.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.808-823
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to suggest the basic data to develop the national exam contents for dental hygiene by comparing with those of other country. Methods : Several dental hygiene education course results were reviewed, and analyzed the culture subjects, basic major subjects, educational subjects, national exam contents in 3 or 4 years dental hygiene curriculum. Results : In Korea, grades of culture subjects in dental hygiene curriculum were different between 3 and 4 years education course, mean grades were 10.4, and 34.5 respectively. While there were few different between 3 and 4 years education course, mean grades were 36, and 36.5 respectively in foreign country. In Korea, grades of major subjects in dental hygiene curriculum were similar between 3 and 4 years education course as mean grades of 110, while there were different between 3 and 4 years education course, mean grades were 60 and 80 respectively in foreign country. In Korea, number of major subject was higher in 4 years(n=61) than 3 years(n=54). However, it was lower in 4 years(n=27) than in 3 years(n=33) in foreign country. Total grade number was 129 in 3 years, and 145 in 4 years in Korea, while it was 97 in 3 years, and 116 in 4 years in foreign country. By analyzing 3 years education course, culture subject was 9.5%, basic health was 11.2%, oral biology was 11.2%, clinical dentistry was 20.7%, public oral health was 10.4%, oral hygiene care was 35.9%, management of dental clinic was 9.4%, education was 2.8% in Korea. In USA, dental hygiene examination contains practice work as major part, while theory was thought of as most important things in korea. Conclusions : It is necessary to improve learning course of dental hygiene curriculum on the basis of other country's system, and then it could be possible to development of good quality's national examination contents, thus good quality of dental hygiene personnel would be turned out in Korea.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.332-341
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• 2014

This study was aimed to define the predicting factor account for the Korean Dental Hygienist Licensing Examination (KDHLE) by analyzing the academic grade score and the KDHLE score. The subjects included 185 graduates (2007, 2009, 2011~2014 graduates). The ratio of successful applicants of the subjects was 99.2%. The academic grade scores were calculated to grade point average, the KDHLE was scoring marks out of 300 (200 of written examination score and 100 of performance evaluation score) for correlation and regression analysis. The graduation grades and comprehensive examination scores correlated significantly with the KDHLE written examination scores (correlation coefficient=0.612), and KDHLE total score (correlation coefficient=0.258). First~third grade score and comprehensive examination scores correlated significantly with KDHLE total scores (p<0.05). Especially, there are the highest correlated between second comprehensive examination scores and KDHLE total scores (correlation coefficient=0.455), the last score in time sequence is the important factors account for the KDHLE total score. But there is no correlation between academic grade score and KDHLE performance evaluation scores, therefore it is necessary to study for determine the reason. The results of multiple linear regression analysis, second grade score and the average score of comprehensive examination were the main predicting factors account for the KDHLE total score, the explanatory power was 31.6%. Our results show that KDHLE total and written examination scores are predicted by the academic grade score reliably, but not the KDHLE performance evaluation scores. Further studies are needed to determine relationship between dental hygiene education and KDHLE.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and utility of panoramic radiograph for the improvement of the periodic oral examinations. Materials and Methods : Clinical examinations and panoramic examinations were done for the 242 subjects of oral examinations. The results of panoramic radiograph interpretation were compared with the clinical findings. Two questionnaires were created. One was carried out before the panoramic examination and the other done afterwards, to find out the subjects' cognition and satisfaction for the clinical and panoramic examinations. Results : 1. Panoramic findings showed a higher detection rate of 31.9% for periodontal diseases, and 23.1% for dental caries than clinical findings. 2. The additional abnormalities detected through panoramic examinations were impacted tooth in 81 subjects (33.6%), maxillary sinus abnormalities in 28 subjects (11.6%), condylar abnormalities in 5 subjects (2.1%), congenital and acquired dental anormalies in 59 subjects (24.5%), and other miscellaneous abnormalities in 34 subjects (14.1%). 3. 164 subjects (67.8%) were satisfied with the current periodic oral examination, and 75 subjects (31.1%) hoped for better accuracy. 4. In the first and second questionnaire, 154 subjects (67.0%) and 163 subjects (70.6%) responded respectively that panoramic examination was necessary, and 193 subjects (83.2%) responded that it actually helped. Conclusion : The panoramic examination was revealed to improve the effectiveness of the periodic oral examination and to increase the satisfaction of the subjects of examination.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.83-86
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• 2007

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of panoramic radiography by comparing the results of clinical examination with radiographic findings. Materials and Methods: We studied 190 patients (20 men and 170 women; mean age, 40 years; range, 22 to 68 years) who visited the health promotion center of Korea Medical Science Institute and were examined both clinically and by panoramic radiography. We compared results from both examinations. Treatment options by clinical examination were described as "no treatment indicated", "treatment of dental caries", "removal of calculus", "treatment of periodontal disease", "prothodontic treatment" and "extraction of the third molar". Findings taken from the panoramic radiography were: dental caries, periapical lesion, alveolar bone loss, calculus deposition, retained root, impaction of the third molar, disease of maxillary sinus, bony change of mandibular condyle, etc. Results: The prevalence of panoramic findings were: 37.9% of dental caries, 17.4% of periapical lesions, 44.7% of alveolar bone losses, 62.6% of calculi deposition, 7.9% of retained roots, 26.8% of third molar impactions, 6.3% of diseases of maxillary sinus, 2.1 % of bony changes of mandibular condlye and 35.8% of miscellaneous lesions. Abnormal conditions revealed by panoramic radiography which had not been discovered on clinical examination were: 24.2% of the patients had dental caries, 17.4% had periapical lesions, 7.4% had calculi deposition, 5.3% had retained roots, 15.3% had third molar impactions. The opposite cases were: 5.2% had dental caries, 12.6% had calculi deposition, and 9.5% had third molar impactions. Conclusion: The use of panoramic radiography as a supplement to the clinical examination might be a valuable screening technique.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.235-249
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this research is to use data from the third year of the 4th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to study relationship between oral disease and chronic disease that generally persist from 6 months to over a year, or more specifically, circulatory disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Methods : Of the data from the third year of the 4th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 7,893 adults over 19 years old who completed medical examination, health survey, and nutrition survey were selected as the final research subjects. Relationship between chronic disease and oral disease was analyzed by cross tabulation (2-test) and logistic regression analysis using SPSSWIN ver 18.0. Results : 1. Differences in the rate of prevalence of periodontal disease and the rate of prevalence of missing teeth were statistically significant with respect to age, gender, marital status, education level, residential area, income level, and occupation. Rate of prevalence of dental caries was statistically significant with respect to age, education level, and income level. 2. After examining the relationship between existence of chronic disease as diagnosed by doctor with oral disease, rate of prevalence of periodontal disease and missing teeth, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and osteoporosis showed statiscally significant difference. 3. Examination of rate of prevalence of chronic disease with respect to oral disease, periodontal disease and missing teeth exerted statistically significant influence on hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and osteoporosis (p<0.05), while dental caries did not have statistically significant effect. 4. Analysis of coupling effect of periodontal disease and missing teeth on chronic disease showed that they were related in all chronic diseases examined in this study (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and osteoporosis) (p<0.05). Conclusions : Periodontal disease and missing teeth were found to increase the rate of prevalence of chronic disease.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.721-729
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the actual use of interdental care products (ICPs), such as dental floss (DF) and interdental brushes (IDB), among Korean youth, confirm their relevance to periodontal health, and determine the factors that influence the use of each product. Methods: This study included 15,912 young adults aged 19-39 years and data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (2007-2018). The usage rate of ICPs according to the characteristics of the subjects for each cycle of KNHANES was presented. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting the use of ICP. Results: The use rates of DF and IDB gradually increased until the 7th period, reaching 34.8% and 26.8%, respectively. The rate of using more than one ICP also showed a tendency to gradually increase from 25.2% in the 4th period to 50.0% in the 7th period. The use of interdental care products is related to gingivitis and periodontitis. Factors related to the use of ICP were gender, age, education level, frequency of brushing, and dental examination experience. Conclusions: The use of dental floss or interdental toothbrushes was related to periodontal health, but only half of the adults aged 19-39 years used ICP. Therefore, oral health experts should actively encourage the use of DF and IDB in young adults.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this review is to evaluate the possibility of panoramic radiography as a national oral examination tool. Materials and Methods : This report was carried out by review of the literatures. Results : Panoramic radiography has sufficient diagnostic accuracy in dental caries, periodontal diseases, and other lesions. Also, the effective dose of panoramic radiography is lower than traditional full-mouth periapical radiography. Conclusion : Panoramic radiography will improve the efficacy of dental examination in national oral examination. However, more studies are required to evaluate the benefit, financial cost, and operation time and also to make selection criteria and quality management program.