The Effect of School Dental Service on Dental Health Knowledge, Beheaviors and Dental Health Status Among Elementary School Students

학교 구장보건실 운영이 초등학생들의 구강보건지식, 행태 및 건강상태에 미치는 영향

Objective: In this study, the dental health care knowledge, dental health behaviors and dental health status of elementary school students were compared and analyzed in the cases of their schools having dental health care center or not one. Methods: The target groups were 167 students of A school (experimental group) where pit-and-fissure sealants, fluoride mouthrinsing, and fluoride gel application were carried out with all grades of students by school dental health care center and 158 students of B school (control group) where fluoride mouthrinsing, for all grades students and pit-and-fissure sealants for the first grade students are carried out but have no the school dental health care center. Results: This study was carried out through the answer sheets and recordings of dental inspection. The findings of this study are as follows: 1. The dental health care knowledge was compared and the results showed that on average 14.2$\pm$2.1 in experimental group and 14.0$\pm$1.9 in the control group were no significantly different (p>0.05). 2. The dental health behaviors were compared and the results showed that the experimental group was significantly different(p<0.05) in terms of the number of times of dental brushing a day, the method of tooth brushing, the time of tooth brushing, the experience of tooth brushing with fluorine, the kinds of snacks and tooth brushing in school after lunch. But there was no significant difference(p>0.05) in the time of tooth brushing and the tooth brushing after eating snacks. 3. The DMF rate was compared and the results showed the significantly difference between the average experimental group and 53.8$\pm$5.0 in the control group(p<0.05). 4. The DMFT index was compared and the results showed the significantly difference between the average 0.6$\pm$2 in the experimental group and 1.4$\pm$1.6 in the control group(p<0.05). 5. The DMFI rate was compared and the results showed the significantly difference between the average 4.2$\pm$8.3 in the experimental group and 9.5$\pm$11.0 in the control group. (p<0.05). 6. The DT rate were compared and the results showed the significantly difference between the average 10.2$\pm$29.5 in the experimental group and 32.4$\pm$44.0 in the control group(p<0.05). 7. The FT rate were compared and the results showed the significantly difference between the average 88.5$\pm$31.0 in the experimental group and 67.5$\pm$44.0 in the control group(p<0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results, above there was no significant difference in dental health care knowledge between both the experimental and the control group. But we discovered that the experimental group is better than the other one in dental health care behaviors and dental health status. Therefore, we could conclude that the school dental health care center efficiently carried out the dental care and treatment. As school dental health care centers did not work out efficiently in terms of their educating on the dental health acre knowledge, the related programs to be developed and supported.