• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.603-611
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• 2015

This research is aimed at cutting off hearing loss and other harmful factors due to noise and providing basic material for noise reduction plan. As the research method, this research assessed noise by measuring acoustic pressure level and frequency in various situation of non-treatment and treatment. As the measurement result, average noise degree of high speed handpiece of non-treatment, ultrasonic waves scaler, and low speed handpiece showed 58~66 dB(A). Average noise degree of scaling of treatment, tooth elimination, and denture adjust showed 73~81 dB(A). The result is inferior to recognized standards of noise induced hearing loss. But the result of assessing this with (noise rating) NR curve was NR-73~78, which exceeded general workplace noise standard. This level can cause hearing loss when exposed to a long time. Therefore, treatment office noise during dental treatment can cause psychological and physical damage in dental clinic employees, and it is urgently required to establish systematic and active noise reduction plan.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2013

This study investigated the safety management behavior of dental professionals to minimize exposure to harmful elements of amalgam and resin. As for the use of amalgam and resin, 85.8% of them used amalgam. 100% of used composite resin 100%. 97.8% used acryl resin, and 95.7% used tray resin. 95.2% and 36.5% of them were aware of the harm of amalgam and resin respectively. When using resin, their safety management behavior score was 1.99 on average, and the lowest score was 2.50 on average for 'ventilate the indoor air when handling resin'. Their average score of the safety management behavior was 1.83 when using amalgam. The lowest score was 2.89 on average for 'use the rubber dam for patients when handling amalgam'. As a result of the safety management behavior based on general characteristics, all characteristics were significant with regard to amalgam, and my position at work and work experience were significant with regard to resin (p<0.05). The correlation between the safety management behavior and general characteristics was analyzed when dental amalgam and resin are used. Amalgam was statistically correlated with academic background (p<0.05) and position at work (p<0.05), whereas resin was statistically significantly correlated with age (p<0.05) and position at work (p<0.05). Accordingly, education about the harm of dental materials must be continuously provided for dental professionals when they handle dental materials so that safety management behavior will be conducted correctly, and active efforts to protect the health of dental professionals from harmful chemicals must be made.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship among knowledge, attitude, and behavior of dental personnel about the defense against dental radiation according to general features, and help them recognize the importance of defense against dental radiation. A questionnaire survey of 187 dental personnel who were working in 121 medical institutions such as university hospitals, general hospitals, hospitals, clinics, and public health centers in Seoul area was conducted from December 2002 to January 2003. Study findings are as follows: 1. The average knowledge score for the defense of radiation was 9.51(full score=14): By the demographic features, the know level for the defense of radiation was appeared to be different with the occupational category, age, academic background, workplace, year of working, and whether having the education of radiation or not. By questionnaire items, the knowledge for the defense of radiation was high in general, but for the item. 'the average amount of being bombed with radiation according occupations cannot be over 20mSv in a year for prescribed 5 years'. it was 18.7%: and for the item. 'the longer the length between focus and film. the less the amount of skin exposure', it was 40.6%. showing less knowledge for these two items. 2. The average attitude score for the defense of radiation was 64.24 (full score=75): By the demographic features, the attitude score was higher with respondents who were 31-35 years old. 11-15 years of working. and having radiation education. The attitude score by questionnaire items was generally high for all the items. 3. The average behavior score for the defense of radiation was 45.43: (a) By the demographic features, the behavior score for the defense of radiation was appeared to be higher with respondents who were dentists for occupational category, the aged for age, holding higher diploma for academic background, working in the university hospitals for workplace, and having longer occupational career for the year of working. (b) The behavior score for the defense of radiation by questionnaire items was lower than that of the attitude score for all the items. For the item, 'the amount of X-ray radiation is adjusted according to such conditions as patients' age, radiating areas, and kind of films', the score was 4.03; and for the item, 'Must receive the education of safety management of radiation periodically', the score was 1.73 and it was the lowest one. 4. As for the correlation among the knowledge, attitude, and behavior for the defense of radiation, the higher the level of knowledge and attitude, the higher the level of behavior.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting dental hygienists's stress in order to provide dental hygienists's stress management methods. The results of this study were as follows. 1. A sample of 168 dental hygienists were selected to participate in this study. The participate of 66.1% was under 25 old years and 87.5% was unmarried. A majority of he dental hygienists's job place was clinical areas 86.9% and working experience was 1~4 years (47.6%). A average dental hygienists's salary was 1,000,000~1,500,000 won/month (63.7%). A average dental hygienists's working time was under 8 hours/day (57.1%). 5days/week (58.3%) was working and the participate of 78.0% was working on night-time. 2. Dental hygienists's stress under 25 years old was higher than over 26 years old (p < 0.05). It was found that dental hygienists was significantly related to stress from less income (p < 0.05), longer working time (p < 0.01). In job demand areas, Night-time workers (p < 0.05) and 5days/week (p < 0.05) worker was more stress than others participates. In job autonomy areas, longer working experience in present dental clinical(p < 0.01) and higher salary/ month (p < 0.01) were more stress. The job instability of unmarried dental hygienists were more stress than married subjects. In stress of organization system, longer working time/day (p < 0.05), under 25 years old (p < 0.01), high salary (p < 0.05), 5day/week (p < 0.05) dental hygienists's stress was higher than others.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.430-436
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• 2015

This study examined the correlation of educational experience with practical behavior in infection control. Subjects were 152 dental hygienists in Gwangju from September 15 to October 5, 2015. The ratio of dental hygienists educated on infection control was higher in those worked in dental care with 2~4 dentist for 2~5 years and lower in those worked in dental cared with 1 dentist for 2~5 years (p<0.05, p<0.001). The dental hygienists with or without educational experience in infection control exhibited the highest activity rate in hand wash and the lowest in face protection. Barrier in health belief, was lower with the need for education in infection control among the factors affecting on the activity in infection control. The activity was higher with susceptibility and cue to action (p<0.05). Based on the results, education program on infection control should be developed, and applied periodically and obligatorily for dentist and all staffs of dental care to remove susceptibility and barrier, and to enhance cue to action. This will result the effective control of infection by elevating the health belief.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.471-479
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• 2011

This research, which was conducted for dental hygienists, intended to check out what factors have an influence on their behaviors by measuring the level of self-efficacy and consciousness on the use of radiation, knowledge and attitude on radiation safety management(RSM). The subjects were 235 of the dental hygienists and this study performed a survey 8 May to 17 June, 2011. The survey results were as follows. 1. As a result of comparing the average of the self-efficacy according to the general characteristics, a statistically meaningful difference(p<0.05) was found according to health condition, protection facilities condition. 2. As a result of comparing the average of consciousness about radiation use according to the general characteristics, a statistically meaningful difference(p<0.05) was found according to medical institute type, protection facilities conditions. 3. As a result of comparing the average of the behaviors for RSM according to the general characteristics, a statistically meaningful difference(p<0.05) was found according to monthly income, medical institute type, whether or not education on radiation was conducted, the number of education, education type, and protection facilities condition. 4. As a result of analyzing what factors have an influence on the behaviors for RSM by employing the points of those behaviors as a dependent variable and self-efficacy, consciousness, knowledge and attitude as an independent variable in order to investigate those factors, it turned out that the factors which had a relatively larger influence on the point of behaviors were attitude and self-efficacy by that order(p<0.05). In conclusion, we believe that a variety of programs should be offered to provide knowledge on RSM as a prerequisite for improving the level of RSM behaviors by dental hygienists.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.509-516
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• 2016

A dental panoramic radiography which usually uses low level X-rays is subject to the Nuclear Safety Act when it is installed for the purpose of education. This paper measures radiation dose and spatial dose rate by usage and thereby aims to verify the effectiveness of radiation safety equipment and provide basic information for radiation safety of radiation workers and students. After glass dosimeter (GD-352M) is attached to direct exposure area, the teeth, and indirect exposure area, the eye lens and the thyroid, on the dental radiography head phantom, these exposure areas are measured. Then, after dividing the horizontal into a $45^{\circ}$, it is separated into seven directions which all includes 30, 60, 90, 120 cm distance. The paper shows that the spatial dose rate is the highest at 30 cm and declines as the distance increases. At 30 cm, the spatial dose rate around the starting area of rotation is $3,840{\mu}Sv/h$, which is four times higher than the lowest level $778{\mu}Sv/h$. Furthermore, the spatial dose rate was $408{\mu}Sv/h$ on average at the distance of 60 cm where radiation workers can be located. From a conservative point of view, It is possible to avoid needless exposure to radiation for the purpose of education. However, in case that an unintended exposure to radiation happens within a radiation controlled area, it is still necessary to educate radiation safety. But according to the current Medical Service Act, in medical institutions, even if they are not installed, the equipment such as interlock are obliged by the Nuclear Safety Law, considering that the spatial dose rate of the educational dental panoramic radiography room is low. It seems to be excessive regulation.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.219-233
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• 2005

This study was conducted on 185 workers at 73 dental clinics and university hospitals in Daegu to investigate the actual prevention of infection and vaccination against B-type hepatitis among dental workers. 1. According to the result of medical examination, only 35 out of 144 (24%) dental clinic workers had periodic health examination while 7 out of 9 (78%) university hospital workers did. 2. In a survey on vaccination against B-type hepatitis, 52 workers aged 29 or younger (96.3%), 38 dental hygienists (51.9%) and 44 dental workers at dental clinics (81.5%) have not had any vaccination against B-type hepatitis. The rest appeared to have had vaccination or be aware that they had antibody against B-type hepatitis without having to have any vaccination. 3. According to the result of a survey on the existence of antibody by job, 42 (56%) of dental hygienists, 15 (20%) of assistant nurses, 12 (16%) of medical assistants and 6 (8%) of dental technicians did not know whether or not they had antibody. This suggests that all types of dental workers except dental hygienists have low awareness of whether or not they have antibody. 4. In a survey on the relation between general characteristics of subjects and the sterilization of dental equipment, alcohol disinfection of high speed handpiece and low speed handpiece was most common among dental workers aged 29 or younger, and all of those aged over 40 used autoclave. By position, alcohol disinfection was used most commonly for high-speed handpiece. antiseptic solution deposition for disposable suction lips, and autoclaving for impression. By workplace, dental workers at university hospitals used autoc1aving most frequently for high/low speed handpiece while those at dental hospitals and dental clinics used alcohol disinfection most frequently and even some respondents replied that they did not disinfect. For metal cups, workers at dental clinics and dental hospitals did not use any sterilizing method while those at university hospitals used autoclaving. For disposable suction tips, workers at dental clinics used antiseptic solution deposition and those at dental hospitals used alcohol disinfection but some respondents replied that they did not disinfect. For metal suctions and impression trays, autoclaving was most common in all workplaces but some dental clinics replied that they did not disinfect impression trays. According to work experience, alcohol disinfection was most common for high/low speed handpiece. For disposable suction tips, dental workers with 3 years' or shorter work experience, those with 3~6 years' experience and those with 9~12 years' experience used antiseptic solution deposition most commonly, and many of those with 6~9 years replied that they did not disinfect. The results of this study stated above suggest that systematic education is necessary for all dental workers for enhancing th eir awareness of B-type hepatitis and the prevention of infection. Moreover, dental workers are required to make efforts to prevent infection with B-type hepatitis voluntarily and actively.