• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.276-286
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• 2014

In 2013, dental hygienist is in its 100th year. As Dr. Fones opened two year dental hygiene training program at Bridgeport Junior College in 1913. 'Dental Hygienist', the profession that specializes in oral disease prevention and health science, was first used. Since 'Dental Hygienist' was first introduced in the States, looking back through the America's development of dental hygienist would be the basis of checking development process of the international dental hygiene system and comparing the system of each country. This study focused on the contemplation of how America's dental hygienist became professional through 'development of dental hygienist', 'development of dental hygiene education system', 'development of dental hygienist's license and related qualification system', 'Dental hygienist laws and ethics', and 'dental hygienists' role and scope'. America's dental hygienist has requirements to become professional and also dental hygienist is socially recognized as professional. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the process of American dental hygienist professionalization. Thus, references and literature were gathered and analyzed.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2020

Background: Dental treatment has shifted to the center of the community, and the public policy of the country has expanded to support the vulnerable classes such as the disabled. The dental profession needs education regarding oral health services for persons with disabilities, and it is necessary to derive the competencies for this. Therefore, we conducted this study to derive the normative ability to understand the role of a dental hygienist in the oral health service for persons with disabilities and improvement plans for education. Methods: We conducted a qualitative analysis for deriving competencies by analyzing the data collected through in-depth interviews with experts in order to obtain abilities through practical experience. Based on the competency criterion, relevant competency in the interview response was derived using the priori method, and it was confirmed whether the derived ability matched the ability determined by the respondent. Results: The professional conduct competencies of dental hygienists, devised by the Korean Association of Dental Hygiene, consists of professional behavior, ethical decision-making, self-assessment skills, lifelong learning, and accumulated evidence. Also, core competencies of the American Dental Education Association competencies for dental hygienist classification such as ethics, responsibility for professional actions, and critical thinking skills were used as the criterion. The dental hygienist's abilities needed for oral health care for people with disabilities, especially in the detailed abilities to fulfill these social needs, were clarified. Conclusion: To activate oral health care for people with disabilities, it is necessary for dental hygienists to fulfill their appropriate roles, and for this purpose, competency-based curriculum restructuring is indispensable. A social safety net for improving the oral health of people with disabilities can be secured by improving the required skills-based education system of dental hygienists and strengthening the related infrastructure.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.547-553
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• 2015

Objectives: In this comparative analytic study the standard competency of American Dental Hygienists proposed by the America Dental Education Association was examined and compared with the competency of American school of entry-level to identify the competence required by domestic dental hygienists. Methods: Based on the standard competency presented by the America Dental Education Association the 109 schools which provide respective dental hygiene competency among 336 universities and colleges belonging to the entry-level were compared with each other, and the collected data were processed by SPSS 21.0. Results: The descriptive statistics upon overall competence were prepared and the results of survey revealed the highest average score of 7.53 for the Core competency. It was identified that there were statistically significant difference between two groups of the above(the top 25%) and below the average level(the 25% from the bottom) in all the competency. The competency of participation in local community and patients' care were appeared as significant variables affecting the core competency of dental hygienists with the 76.4% of explanatory power, and the model reveals the statistically significant results(p<0.001). Conclusions: Based on these results it was identified that the ethical, communication skill, self-development efforts, and capability of critical thinking and judgment were necessary competency for the dental hygienists. Further efforts to integrate and standardize the competency of domestic dental hygienists are thus needed and based on these integrated and standardized competencies the integrated curricula to cultivate domestic dental hygienists should be developed.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

Objectives : In order to make a proposal of a Korean standard dental hygiene curriculum, the job description of the National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board was analyzed to prepare a job analysis matrix of dental hygienist to select required core competency. Methods : Data were analyzed to test the job validity of dental hygienist and categorize the duties of dental hygienist. A proposal of a standard dental hygiene curriculum was mapped out by making a comparative analysis of the courses necessary for American authorization of dental hygiene curriculum, existing proposals of Korean standard dental hygiene curriculum and the courses of the departments of dental hygiene offered by domestic three-year colleges and four-year universities. Results : Basic medicine courses were reinforced or newly offered to provide an opportunity for students to transfer to a domestic four-year university or to a foreign university. In the field of clinical dental hygiene and practice, preventive dentistry, prophylaxis and practice were integrated, and the names of the related courses were unified to give a chance for students to engage in comprehensive dental hygiene practice. There were different courses for dental clinical science at present. In this proposal, students should earn 125 credits in total. Conclusions : Standard dental hygiene curriculum proposal was required by three-year and four-year colleges across the nation. To make it happen, the original names of dental hygiene courses should be used, and the dental hygiene certification and evaluation institute that is under the umbrella of the Korean Dental Hygienists Association should lay out the standard of the KSDHEP to facilitate the utilization of the standard dental hygiene curriculum proposal.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.773-784
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• 2021

Objectives: This study presents the basic data necessary to explore the methods used of Korean dental hygienists to resolve oral health inequalities in Korea via reviewing the professionalization trend of American dental hygienists. Methods: The supervision levels of American dental hygienists, and system of dental therapists were analyzed using the data published by the relevant associations. Results: In America, dental hygienists help address oral health inequalities. However, due to limitations in the supervision levels and scope of practice of dental hygienists, the autonomy of dental hygienists was expanded, and mid-level practitioner were employed. The autonomy for dental hygiene practice was higher in public than in private in America. Some states have introduced dental therapists as mid-level practitioners. Their practice settings have limitations such as serving low-income, uninsured, and underserved patients or serving in a dental health professional shortage area. Conclusions: It is necessary to expand the autonomy of dental hygienists based on their profession. In particular, it is suggested that they start with the low-risk level practices. Further, it is necessary to introduce a dental hygiene specialist system specialized for fields with high social demands.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.65-77
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• 2023

Background: The shortage of dental hygienists as assistant is a great concern to dental clinics, while dental hygienists are rather pursuing the role of oral hygiene control and preventive treatments which is the main role for dental hygienists in the United States. The dental hygienist and dental assistant system in the United States can be a reference in these discussions. Methods: Educational requirements for licensure and work areas for dental hygienists and dental assistants were investigated through the information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), American Dental Hygienists Association, National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), Dental Assistants Association of America (ADAA), and Dental Assistants National Board (DANB). Results: In the United States, each state has different systems, but in general, dental hygienists obtain licenses after completing 2~3 years of associate degree programs in dental hygiene after obtaining basic learning skills, and mainly perform tasks related to patient screening procedures, oral hygiene management and preventive care. Dental assistants can take the license test after completing a training course of 9~11 months to obtain a dental assistant certification. Additional expanded work typically requires passing state qualification tests, completing a training program, obtaining a degree, or gaining clinical experience for a certain period of time, depending on the state Conclusion: The scope of work of dental hygienists designated by the Medical Engineer Act and the Enforcement Decree in Korea includes both the work of dental hygienists and dental assistants in the United States, and if a dental assistant system like the United States is introduced to address the current shortage of dental assistants, institutional supplementation such as adjustment of the scope of work and expansion of the role of dental hygienists in oral hygiene management and prevention work is needed and in-depth discussion is necessary.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.493-494
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• 2017

이 연구는 미국 치과위생사의 역사를 역할변화의 관점에서 고찰한 것으로, '전문 조직', '교육 제도', '면허 제도', '역할과 업무범위', '의무와 윤리' 등 5개의 범주에 따라 미국치과위생사가 전문직이 되기 위해 어떤 과정을 거쳤는지 고찰하였다. 미국치과위생사는 그들의 사회적 조직화를 위해 미국치과위생사협회를 결성하였으며, 교육 연한은 2년 과정에서 석사 과정까지 증대되었다. 치과위생사 면허는 1952년에 미국 전 주에서 발급되었으며, 현재는 전문치과위생사자격증 등이 제안되고 있다. 업무범위는 구강보건교육과 치면세마를 시작으로 예방치과처치, 치주처치, 일부 수복치료, 마취 등까지 확대되었다. 이 연구는 전 세계 중 최초로 치과위생사 양성제도가 결성된 미국의 치과위생사가 전문직 역할을 수립해나가는 과정을 분석함으로써 각 국의 치과위생사 제도와 비교할 수 있는 기초자료를 제시한 데 의의가 있다고 사료된다.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.1061-1071
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to train talents with high quality in dental hygienists by suggesting problems and proposing basic data available for applying to development in dental hygiene curriculum, through analyzing contents of dental hygiene curriculum. Methods : To analyze curriculum of educational institutions for dental hygienists between America and Korea, it utilized materials that were notified on each university homepage, analyzed documents, analyzed curricular content analysis, comparatively analyzed America's ASDHEP field, and comparatively analyzed Biomedical Science field, dentistry field, prevention and public field, clinical dental hygiene field, integrated curriculum, and teaching course between domestic university and American university. Results : 1. The basic field of ASDHEP was indicated the average credit in 28.6 for 4-year university with establishment and the average credit in 26.9 for 3-year university with establishment. The curricular subject field of ASDHEP except the basic field was indicated the average credit in 29.45 for 4-year university with establishment and the average credit in 30.68 for 3-year university with establishment. The prevention and public field by university was indicated the totally average credit in 27.5 for 4-year university and in 26.2 for 3-year university. The clinical dental hygiene field by university was indicated the totally average credit in 27.5 for 4-year university and in 35.0 for 3-year university. The integrated curriculum was indicated to be established dental hygiene practice(3 universities), dental clinics practice for Dept. of clinical dental hygiene(2 universities), and comprehensive dental hygiene practice(1 university) for 4-year university, and to be established clinical dental hygiene(2 universities), comprehensive dental hygiene practice, dental hygiene practice, and dental clinics practice(1 university, respectively) for 3-year university. Comparing the teaching courses by university, they were established diversely from 8 credits to 2 credits. Conclusions : Seeing the above findings, a plan for dental hygiene curriculum needs to be continuously developed so that dental hygienists can enter upon a professional career. Development in the international standard curriculum proper for global era is considered to be desperately needed.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to analyze in depth the standardized Clinical dental hygiene curriculum of the Fones School in the United States. We investigated the clinical dental hygiene curriculum in 2015~2016 including title, credit, hours, contents, goals, competencies, and evaluation. We obtained the course syllabus and data related to each subject, for each grade, from the professors and students at the university. The goals and competencies, of the clinical dental hygiene program, which were based on the goals of the Fones School and the mission of the University of Bridgeport, were developed in accordance with the dental hygienist practice standards proposed by the American Dental Hygienists Association. The curriculum consisted of theory to teach proper dental hygiene care procedures and incorporated practical exercises that modeled an actual clinical setting. The students had to document the procedures performed for each client/patient and improve their clinical competency through discussion with the professors. Dental hygiene care should be provided for children, adolescents, adults, elderly, and patients, which includes patients with moderate or severe periodontal status. Students were evaluated by a paper test or case study presentation and their clinical evaluation was based on their clinical competency. In particular, professors evaluated students on a rotational basis, so they could evaluate the level of achievement of clinical competency of all students and find ways to improve any weaknesses. Therefore, the current study suggested that clinical dental hygiene program in Korea could be improved if based on the curriculum of Fones School in the United States.