• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.4353-4360
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• 2014

This study examined the relationship between the current chewing difficulty and the dental prosthesis needs of the elderly Koreans to improve their oral health status. A total of 1,177 subjects over 65 years who participated in the the Five Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were examined. An oral examination was conducted to determine the number of missing teeth and dental prosthesis required. A questionnaire was given to measure the sociodemographic characteristics, concerns about oral health, chewing ability and pronunciation ability. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS 19.0 program. The percentage of the current chewing difficulty in Korean elderly was 42.9%. After adjusting for confounder variables, the odds ratio of the fixed prosthodontics needs were 1.22 (95% CI; 0.74 to 2.02), the odds ratio of partial denture needs were 2.47 (95% CI; 1.71 to 3.56) and the odds ratio of the full denture needs were 2.06 (95% CI; 0.73 to 5.81). The dental prosthesis needs were associated with the current chewing difficulty. Therefore, dental prosthesis support policy and public oral health promotion for the elderly is necessary.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify differences in BMI between early and late elderly people, and factors having influence of them. Methods: This study is an analysis of secondary data that used the raw materials from the KNHANES from 2008 to 2010. The subjects involved in the final analysis were 4,772 elders aged 65 or higher. Descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test and F-test, and CSGLM from the complex sample design were used for the data analysis with SPSS/WIN 19.0. Results: Significant differences were observed in the socio-demographic characteristics, health behaviors and diet habits between early and late elderly people. Adjusted for gender, location of residence, and living alone, the factors that affected BMI of the early elderly people included current smoking status, number of disease, difficulty in chewing, and number of meals per day while those that affected BMI of the late elderly people were current smoking status, number of disease, self-rated health, and difficulty in chewing. Conclusion: The study concludes that we should consider age-specific traits for monitoring the weight status of the elderly and providing appropriate weight management programs for the elderly.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2022

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) causes destruction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and can lead to occlusal changes such as anterior open bite in some patients. Consequently, these patients may experience difficulty in chewing food items and exhibit abnormal functional habits such as bruxism, preventing healing of the TMJ condyles. Treatment protocols include the use of traction appliances to reduce stress on the condyles. Unstable occlusions can lead to weakness of the masticatory muscles which, in turn, worsen the occlusal changes and complicate pain management. Therefore, the current study evaluated the condition of the masseter muscle using ultrasonography and educated patients on the execution of gum-chewing exercises for muscle strengthening. It also aimed to assess the effects of traction appliances and strengthening exercises on the masticatory muscles of patients with occlusal changes caused by TMJ OA.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.203-216
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• 2014

The purpose of the current report is to present 6-year long-term stability and 10-year follow-up data for an adult patient who was treated with a tongue elevator for relapsed anterior open-bite. The 19-year-old male patient presented with the chief complaint of difficulty in chewing his food. Collectively, clinical and radiographic examinations revealed an anterior open-bite, low tongue posture, and tongue-tie. The patient opted for orthodontic treatment alone, without any surgical procedure. A lingual frenectomy was recommended to avoid the risk of relapse, but the patient declined because he was not experiencing tongue discomfort. Initial treatment of the anterior open-bite with molar intrusion and tongue exercises was successful, but relapse occurred during the retention period. A tongue elevator was used for retreatment, because the approach was minimally invasive and suited the patient's requirements regarding discomfort, cost, and time. The appliance changed the tongue posture and generated an altered tongue force, which ultimately resulted in intrusive dentoalveolar effects, and a subsequent counterclockwise rotation of the mandible. The results showed long-term stability and were maintained for six years through continual use of the tongue elevator. The results of this case indicated that a tongue elevator could be used not only as an alternative treatment for open-bite, but also as an active retainer.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.434-442
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of type of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment awareness on quality of life among orthodontic patients in the region of Busan as well as to develop an educational program tailored to the type of malocclusion as a way to improve quality of life. A survey was conducted for approximately 6 months from December, 2015, and the answer sheets from 472 respondents were analyzed. The most common painful area was the teeth, and this case was most predominant in the respondents with level 2 malocclusion, who differed from others in that regard (p<0.001). Regarding the relationship between satisfaction with orthodontic treatment and quality of life, respondents who were more satisfied currently and who were neither quite confident nor quite unconfident were ahead of their counterparts in quality of life. Concerning the reason for receiving orthodontic treatment, quality of life was lower among patients who started to receive treatment due to pronunciation problems (p=0.013), chewing difficulty (p<0.001), and temporomandibular joint click sound (p<0.001). With regard to influential factors on oral health-related quality of life, time for starting to receive orthodontic treatment was most influential (p<0.001), followed by current satisfaction (p<0.001), changes in confidence (p=0.003), self-rated teeth status (p=0.008), and type of occlusion (p=0.019). Therefore, accurate analysis of the oral health status of orthodontic patients and customized oral health education are required to improve quality of life even during the period of orthodontic treatment.