• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2007

It has passed 40 years since dental hygiene was introduced to Korea. At this time, We hereby demonstrate the findings from the survey on the academic definition and developmental direction of dental hygiene. This survey has been conducted on dental hygiene majoring students, dental clinic hygienists of health & medical care and related professors in the dental field. The findings show that there exists a big disparity in defining the academic scope of dental hygiene among students, clinical dental hygienists of health & medical care and university professors. Accordingly, we suggest that the academic scope of dental hygiene should be explained in a uniform definition. In addition, the results of this survey suggest that they feel that the status of dental hygiene is really behind other study fields, in view of such high response thereto. For development of dental hygiene study and enhancement of its social status, the joint professional study by private, government and scholars should be immediately promoted and a wide variety of programs for dental hygiene should be continuously implemented under the auspices of government and academic world.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.170-184
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• 2008

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to investigate factors associated with dental visits in terms of getting diagnosis and receiving care for diagnosed dental diseases among Korean adults. Methods: Data used in this analysis were from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey which involved a representative sample of 25,487 adults nineteen years of age and older who resided in Korea. This analysis used data of adults who had completed health interview survey (n = 25,215). Uni- and bi-variate analysis, Chi-square test, and logistic regression analyses. were conducted using SAS. Results: The percentages of people diagnosed (treated) dental canes, periodontal disease. and temporomandibular joint disorder were 70.4(77.1), 16.1 (55.7), and 0.6(37.4), respectively. The reception of treatment for diagnosed dental caries and periodontal disease was significantly associated with older age, high monthly household income, and high education attainment. Logistic regression model indicated that age, monthly household income, education attainment, type of health insurance, and chewing problem were significantly associated with getting diagnosis and treatments of dental diseases. Most frequently answered reason for non - or delayed treatments of diagnosed dental diseases during the last one year was cost of treatments. Conclusions: The findings indicated that socio-economic-status still significantly affected reception of needed dental treatments among Korean adults despite the national health insurance system. Oral health policy and programs should be augmented to provide further support to adults of low socio-economic-status who are more prone to dental diseases yet lack resources for needed dental treatments.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2020

Background: A comprehensive history taking at the first visit could be an important start of treatment. This study investigated the current status of the initial history taking for dental patients in S area, and the implementation and importance of the initial history taking process. Based on this, we intend to provide basic data for the development of organized and standardized questionnaires in dental clinics. Methods: In April 2019, 303 dental clinics in S area were targeted and special dental clinics (orthodontics, children, and disabled) were excluded. The questionnaire consisted of 29 items, including general characteristics, systemic disease history, dental history, oral health behaviors, and the data were obtained through self-administered questionnaire. Results: Initial history taking was mostly implemented using oral and questionnaire at the time of the first visit. Systemic disease history, dental history, and oral health behaviors differed in the work experience of the dental clinic staff. As a result of analyzing the importance according to implementation, there were significant differences in all questions except drug-related items. The importance of the questionnaire was highly recognized, but the reason it was not actually implemented was because of existing the questionnaire in the clinic and lack of time. Conclusion: Considering that the initial history taking implementation rate showed low, it is necessary to develop standardize a practical questionnaire and interview skills for dental clinics in the future. In addition, training programs should be provided to dental staff that can recognize the importance of initial history taking questionnaires and contribute to active implementation.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.201-212
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine about workers' oral health status and oral health behavior practice. Methods : Questionnaire survey was carried out targeting 331 workers within the industrial complex of Jeonju city in 2011. As a result of surveying and analyzing workers' oral health status, habit related to oral health, activity restriction, which is oral disease phase, and oral health practice level by using SPSSWIN 12.0. Results : 1. Workers' experience of visiting dental hospital(clinic) for the past one year was indicated to be the highest with 64.9% in the working period with 10 years-under 20 years(p<0.001). Experience of scaling was indicated to be averagely 38.8%. 2. The oral health status perceived by workers was the highest with 40.5% in 'having something abnormal'. A problem was the highest with 28.0% in 'dental caries'. A cause was indicated to be 42.6% in 'because of being naturally weak in tooth or the gum.' The biggest reason for having failed to receive the dental treatment at a proper time was indicated to be the highest with 24.8% in 'because of feeling burdensome about dental expense. '3. 58.4% of male workers were smoking. The use of dental hygiene device was the highest with 40.6% in mouth-rinse. 4. Absence caused by oral disease was indicated to be the highest with 13.8% in the household income in more than 3,500,000won, thereby having shown the significant difference(p<0.05). Early leaving was indicated to be the highest 13.9% in more than 50s age, thereby having shown the significant difference(p<0.05). Also, as for factors of absence and early leaving, a pain was the highest with 64.7%. 5. Workers' oral health practice level was the highest with 2.85 points in 'Brushing teeth before going to bed'. Conclusions : Synthesizing these findings, the oral management could be known to be made negligently in the workers with the older age, the lower academic background, and the lower income. The institutional foundation is considered to be necessary for which the oral health education can be efficiently performed in addition to a need of periodic oral examination for these classes.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.167-177
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• 2016

Objectives : The aims of this study were to identify life satisfaction of elderly living alone based on their health status and suggest measures that improve their physical, mental and oral health, which could be used in future welfare policies on the elderly. Methods : The study subjects were 307 senior citizens who lived alone and used senior citizen centers in Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do. Results : Life satisfaction tended to be high when the subjects had a low number of chronic diseases, no activity limitations and stress, no suicidal feelings, no tooth mobility and chewing difficulty and denture use. Conclusions : To improve life satisfaction, elderly living alone need to make effort to maintain their health however, policy programs that improve the physical, mental and oral health of the elderly need to be promoted.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.137-146
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was obtained to identify current education status of the community dental hygiene practice. Methods: It was designed cross section and self-reported on-line questionnaire(Survey monkey). It was performed probability sampling by targeting 82 dental hygiene schools(each one faculty member) in charge of community dental hygiene curriculum and 254 community health centers's community dental hygienists whom was working at oral health section. The response rate was 60% and 53%, respectively. The questionnaire consisted of time, duration, practice group, evaluation method, and practice contents including 63 learning objectives of dental hygiene. Results: Nearly half of these schools conduct such community field work practice in the spring semester of the junior year. This practice was mainly progressed based on average 4 students as one team per each one school for 7-8 hours a day during the period of more than 5 weeks(p<0.05). However, in case of both school and community health center, almost half of feedback after practice was not achieved and there was a difference in needs for practice education between schools and community health center. Conclusions: We should be considered that a sufficient consultation for the practice environment and its contents between schools and community health centers. It was considered that development of a standardized practice manual reflecting such requirement.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.182-187
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• 2018

As the elderly population increases, they are increasingly affected by oral health problems. Therefore, efforts are being made to improve the oral health of older people, alleviate mental discomfort, and reduce unmet dental needs. This study was conducted to confirm the relationship between the National Health Insurance Elderly Denture Coverage and the unmet dental need for the edentulous elderly, as part of the protection policy. We analyzed the 2011 and 2013 Community Health Survey data of the edentulous elderly, aged 75 years or older, before 2012. In order to more precisely confirm the effects of the denture donation policy on unmet dental care, basic life recipients who were subject to the free elderly prosthetic project were excluded from the analysis. The final analysis included 20,400 subjects. According to our investigation of the factors that affect the unmet dental needs of the elderly, the National Health Insurance Elderly Denture Coverage did not affect unmet dental needs. The statistically significant variables that affected the unmet dental needs of the elderly were education and income levels, which are representative socioeconomic status variables. The lower the level of education, the unhealthier the dental care experience, and income levels showed a similar tendency. The elderly who have a low socioeconomic status are more likely to experience unmet dental needs because they lack the knowledge and socioeconomic ability to pay for dental care. Therefore, the policy for health protection of the entire elderly population should be continuously expanded. In addition, the socioeconomically vulnerable groups may have health problems due to the restriction of medical use, which may lead to quality of life deterioration.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.793-803
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of dental hygiene curricula related to clinical practice in Korea. Methods: Clinical work included the categories 'history taking, infection control, oral prophylaxis, preventive treatment, education/counseling, radiography/reading, assisting/cooperation, impression/bite registration, anesthesia, etc.', and 66 works were finally selected based on the frequent tasks of dental hygienists. The subjects were made to answer nine questionnaires. Results: It was found that the theory and practice of the main works operated quite differently in lectures and practice in each school. All types of practice were applied to all schools in the case of 'scaling'. The evaluation of clinical practice was also found to be very different from school to school. Conclusions: For dental hygienists to establish expertise in clinical practice and promote quality improvement, it is necessary to develop a core curriculum focusing on clinical practice. The standardized curriculum should be improved to an efficient and competency-centered one defining clearly the role of dental hygienists considering the needs and importance of clinical practice.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2023

Background: Dental evaluation and protection are important for preventing traumatic dental injuries when patients are under general anesthesia. The objective of the present study was to develop a questionnaire based on dentition-related risk factors that could serve as a valuable tool for dental evaluation and documentation. Methods: We developed a questionnaire for dental evaluation before administration of general anesthesia, investigated the association between patient-and-dentist responses and mouthguard fabrication, and assessed response agreement between 100 patients. Results: Protective mouthguards were fabricated for 27 patients who were identified as having a high risk of dental injury. There was a strong association between dentists' responses and mouthguard fabrication, depending on the general oral health status, use of ceramic prosthesis, presence of masticatory pain related to periodontal diseases, gingival edema, and implants (P < 0.05). Response agreement between patients and dentists for items related to dental pain, loss of dental pulp vitality, root canal therapy, dental trauma, aesthetic prosthesis, tooth mobility, and implant prosthesis was high (Cohen's kappa coefficient κ ≥ 0.6). Conclusions: A high agreement was observed between patient-dentist responses and a strong association with mouthguard fabrication for items pertaining to ceramic prosthesis, masticatory pain, and dental implants. Patients with a "yes" response to these items are recommended to undergo a dental evaluation and use a dental protective device while under general anesthesia.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the behavior status of oral health between dental hygiene and non-dental hygiene students. The subjects in this study were students from two different colleges that were respectively located in Seoul and Gwangju. In order to examine the necessity of oral-health education, the self-recorded questionnaires had been widely distributed and surveyed from June 2006 to May 2007. The following results were obtained on the basis of comparative analysis through the collected materials. 1. As a result of surveying the actual condition of managing oral health, regarding the frequency of tooth brush, the dental hygiene students were the largest in 3 times. And, the non-dental hygiene students were indicated to be the largest in two times(p < 0.01). 2. As for the experience of scaling, the dental hygiene students were the most in having experience(50.9%), and the non-dental hygiene students were the most in having no experience(56.8%)(p < 0.001). 3. As a result of examining about the experience of oral-health education, the dental hygiene students were many in a case of having experience. And, the non-dental hygiene students were many in a case of having no experience(p < 0.001). The findings of the study showed that in terms of the state of oral health care, the dental hygiene students who received a lot of oral health education excelled the other students who didn't.