• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2023

Background: With advances in safety measures for anesthesia, conscious sedation has gained popularity in the field of dentistry and has become essential in dental practice worldwide. However, in Tanzania, intravenous (IV) sedation is rarely practiced in the dental field. Therefore, we report the establishment of sustainable IV conscious sedation in dental practices and subsequently train local OMS residents in Tanzania. Methods: In 2019, intravenous conscious sedation was initiated at the University Dental Clinic of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS), Tanzania. During the preparatory phase of the program, local oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) were given a series of lecture notes that concentrated on different aspects of IV conscious sedation in dentistry. During the on-site training phase, an oral surgeon from the United States joined the OMSs for case selection, IV-conscious sedation procedures, and patient follow-up. Patients were recruited from existing patient records at the MUHAS Dental Clinic. Results: The first conscious IV sedation program in dentistry was successfully launched at the University Dental Clinic in Tanzania. The local team of OMSs was trained on the safe administration of sedative agents (midazolam or ketamine) to perform various minor surgical procedures in a dental office. Nine patients with different ages, body masses, and medical conditions benefited from the training. No complications were associated with IV conscious sedation in the dental office. Conclusion: This was the first successful "hands-on" training on IV conscious sedation provided to OMSs in Tanzania. It laid the foundation for the sustainable care of patients with special needs requiring oral health-related care in the country.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.355-360
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine unmet dental care needs and related factors among adults in Korea. The study included a nationally representative sample of Koreans (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2104). The dependent variable was unmet dental care need and the independent variables were socioeconomic status and oral health status. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the associations between explanatory variables and unmet dental care needs. The major causes of unmet dental care needs included economic burden, work life, and academic reasons; in addition, dental treatment was considered to have lower priority. The factors that had statistically significant relationships with unmet dental care needs were sex, age, self-rated oral health status, and difficulty in mastication. The findings of the study, suggest a need for lower dental insurance copayments in keeping with the policies and principles aimed at strengthening the national health insurance system. In addition, groups with limited access to dental services should be identified, and effective health care policies and services should be established for these individuals.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.1 s.37
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• pp.53-63
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• 1992

There are increasing interest and need for information on health care consumer with the significance of hospital marketing and strategic planning being increasingly emphasized. This study was conducted to investigate the criteria for selection of medical facilities according to the characteristics of health care consumer by the types of medical services on a sample of 1,500 population aged 20 years and above. Major findings are as follows ; 1. When considering the criteria for selection of medical facilities into two factors, namely, quality or convenience factors, convenience factor was the major contributor for outpatient and dental services whereas it was quality factor for inpatient services. 2. Females and those residing in large cities selected medical facilities based on convenience factor in the outpatient services. In the case of inpatient service, persons who considered their present health status to be good and whose ages were 50 years old and above choose medical facilities based on quality factor. 3. Persons who considered medical facilities to be profit-making tended to choose medical facilities based on convenience factor for outpatient services. There were no differences in the cases of inpatient and dental services. 4. There was no significant difference on the criteria for selection of medical facilities according to the decision maker for selection or trust on medical facilities. On the use of health service information, selection of medical facilities was based on quality factor for those who made more use of the information in the cases of outpatient and dental services. 5. Analysis using the logistic regression model on the criteria for the selection of medical facilities with the characteristics of health care consumer as independent variables was performed. The selection of medical facilities was significantly related with residential area, sex, and use of information on medical facilities for outpatient services and with age, average monthly income, and perception of health status for inpatient services. For dental services significant association with residential area and use of information on medical facilities was seen. The results of this study, despite some limitations, can be used as baseline data for marketing and strategic planning of hospital management.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.78-87
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• 2018

Patients with mental disability who are classified as dental severely disabled, have poor oral health status and many difficulties in taking health services. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors of influencing in visiting oral health care services. After receiving approval from institutional review board in Seoul National University, 39 participants were recruited and the oral health examination and questionnaire were taken. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, independent t-test, hierarchical linear regression for predicting influence of each participants' characteristics on oral examination time and care time. In regression model, the higher the disability grade and the lower the degree of cooperation, the more oral examination time increased. However possibility of communication was not significantly influenced. Also, the higher the disability grade and the lower the degree of cooperation, the more oral care time increased. However possibility of communication was not significantly influenced. These results are expected to provide objective data for introduction and establishment of visiting dental care.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.865-872
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the oral health characteristics of the multicultural international marriage women in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk in Korea. Methods: The subjects were 73 multicultural international marriage women in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk in Korea. The study methods consisted of direct interview with the subjects and oral examination through dental mirror and head lamp by one dentist and two dental hygienists. The questionnaire included the use of medical services, oral health education experience, subjective oral health awareness, toothbrushing, and sociodemographical characteristics of the subjects. Results: There were significant correlations between the subjective oral health awareness, oral health behavior and DMFT index. The subjective oral health awareness significantly changed after the international marriage in Korea. The recognition of subjective oral health status significantly improved after the oral health education by the dentist and the dental hygienist. Conclusions: The subjective oral health status of the international marriage women improved significantly after immigration into Korea. Therefore, Korean government should try to provide the better medical services to the international marriage women and protect their human rights as Korean immigrants on the basis of the Law.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1460-1467
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• 2004

Purpose. This study examined the predictive factors enabling access to children's oral health care at the level of financial barriers, beliefs, and the provider. Methods. In-depth interviews were conducted with 320 immigrant mothers of low-income families regarding their use of oral health services for children aged four to eight years old. Access to oral health care was measured with frequency of planned dental visits, continuity of care, and age at first visit to dentist. Results. The mother took her child to the dentist at a younger age if she received referrals to a dentist from pediatrician. Regular dental visits were significantly related to household income, provider availability on week-ends, and insurance coverage. The extended clinic hours in the evenings, and the belief in the importance of the child's regular dentist visits increased the likelihood of continuing care. The mothers perceiving a cost burden for the child's dental care were also less likely to return to the dentist. Conclusion. The available care delivery system, coordinated medical care, and health beliefs were among important predictors of the health service use. The study findings suggest need for culturally competent dental health interventions to enhance access to oral health care among particularly vulnerable populations such as low-income children in Korean communities.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.131-138
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of incremental oral health care perceptions and experiences on oral health care performance by analyzing the results of incremental oral health care management for adults. As age increased, incremental oral health care experience is significantly higher. The results have shown that as age increases, interest in incremental oral health care becomes even higher. And, the group using secondary oral care products has significantly higher incremental oral care experience(p<0.05). Also, those who visit dental clinic regularly continue to experience incremental oral health care(p<0.05). In addition, the group that had experienced preventive dental services continued to be significantly highly relevant to oral health care(p<0.05). Based on the results of this study, it is possible to analyze the experience and influence of incremental oral health management and it can be used as basic data for the construction of incremental oral health care program in dental clinic.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.211-225
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• 2021

Objectives: To validate the role of a new information and communication technology platform that we created for the betterment of the oral health of persons with disabilities and for providing appropriate health care services. Methods: A Delphi survey was conducted among 16 people in various professions, including academia, government agencies, and dentistry, to evaluate the validity of the information and communication technology platform. Moreover, platform satisfaction was evaluated using a user experience questionnaire among 200 people, including persons with disabilities, parents, and public institutions. Results: Experts in consensus indicated a high validity for the categories of service provider (CV=0.29, CVR=0.69), service target (CV=0.29, CVR=0.38), service contests (CV=0.27, CVR=0.63), and financial support (CV=0.30, CVR=0.63) in our information and communication technology platform. In addition, information from questionnaires on user experience and communication technology satisfaction analysis showed that both users and providers were highly satisfied with the platform. Conclusions: The provision of oral health services based on the new information and communication technology platform has numerous advantages, in addition to providing adequate oral health care for the disabled. Furthermore, the social safety net for improved oral health may be further strengthened.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were 1) to investigate the oral health problem of the disabled according to the handicapped types, 2) to collect the empirical data for developing and establishing the oral health policies for the handicapped, and 3) to find out the major obstacles against the dental services and oral health promotion. The handicapped subjects were collected by designed cluster sampling and interviewed with structured questionnaire in order to measure the oral health knowledge and behaviors. The subjects were attending the special schools and private or public welfare institutions for crippled disorder, encephalopathy disorder, mental retardation, visual disturbance, hearing defect, and developmental disorder. Oral examination was conducted by 13 trained dentists. 1,476 of handicapped people were finally surveyed. The results were as follows; The experiences of visiting dental office during the last one year in 18~64 year-old disabled people were 48.86% in crippled disorder, 52.50% in mental retardation, 58.24% in visual disturbance, 39.29% in hearing defect, respectively. To improve this challenging situation, we should find out the obstacles against the dental service and oral hygiene maintenance by the types of handicap, and develop the oral health policies which could support and advocate the Korean disabled.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.485-492
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to unmet dental care needs among Korean youth, enhance the utilization of dental services by adolescents, furnish basic data for youth-oriented dental projects, and improve access to medical care. Methods: The analysis utilized combined data from the basic and oral databases from the 6th (2013-2015), 7th (2016-2018), and 1st year of the 8th (2019) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: The factors influencing unmet dental care needs were gender, age, household income level, and health insurance. Statistically significant results were observed in relation to the type of dental clinic, recent visits to a dental hospital, experiences of toothache within the past year, subjective oral health status, occurrences of permanent dental caries, and engagement in orthodontic treatment. Conclusions: When formulating future national policies and projects, it is imperative to consider the factors and underlying reasons for the unmet dental care needs of adolescents. It is also necessary to establish oral health policies and institutional measures tailored to the dental care of adolescents.