• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of clinical image quality of panoramic radiographs and to analyze the parameters that influence the overall image quality. Materials and Methods: Korean dental clinics were asked to provide three randomly selected panoramic radiographs. An oral and maxillofacial radiology specialist evaluated those images using our self-developed Clinical Image Quality Evaluation Chart. Three evaluators classified the overall image quality of the panoramic radiographs and evaluated the causes of imaging errors. Results: A total of 297 panoramic radiographs were collected from 99 dental hospitals and clinics. The mean of the scores according to the Clinical Image Quality Evaluation Chart was 79.9. In the classification of the overall image quality, 17 images were deemed 'optimal for obtaining diagnostic information,' 153 were 'adequate for diagnosis,' 109 were 'poor but diagnosable,' and nine were 'unrecognizable and too poor for diagnosis'. The results of the analysis of the causes of the errors in all the images are as follows: 139 errors in the positioning, 135 in the processing, 50 from the radiographic unit, and 13 due to anatomic abnormality. Conclusion: Panoramic radiographs taken at local dental clinics generally have a normal or higher-level image quality. Principal factors affecting image quality were positioning of the patient and image density, sharpness, and contrast. Therefore, when images are taken, the patient position should be adjusted with great care. Also, standardizing objective criteria of image density, sharpness, and contrast is required to evaluate image quality effectively.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the cost for the denture treatment in accordance with the government's plan to expand the National Health Insurance coverage for dental prothesis from July 1, 2012. Methods: We developed the draft of classification of the treatment activities based on the existing researches and expert's review and finalized the standard procedures through confirming by Korean Dental Association. We also made the list of input at each stage of treatments. We conducted survey of 100 dental clinics via post from April 4 to May 20 in 2011 and 37 clinics took part in the survey. The unit of cost calculation is the process from the first visit for denture treatment to setting of denture and adjustment. The manufacturing process performed by dental technician was not included in the cost analysis. Results: The process for the complete denture treatment was classified with 10 stages. The partial denture treatment was classified with 8 stages. The treatment time per each denture is about 5.6 hours for complete dentures and about 6.6 hours for partial dentures. The treatment cost were from 591,108 won to 643,913 won for complete denture and from 670,219 won to 738,840 won for partial denture in 2011, depending on the location, type of the clinics and the types of physician's income. Conclusion: This study shows the example of cost analysis for the treatment to set the fee schedule. Measures to get representative and accurate information need to be made.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.58 no.10
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• pp.627-638
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• 2020

This study was conducted to identify the subjective damage caused by COVID-19 and its related factors. The study subjects were members of the Korean Dental Association (KDA). We investigated the damage to dental clinics and hospitals caused by COVID-19 between January and April 2020. After analyzing the final 3,189 responses, the rate of decrease in patients was the highest at 34.9% in March, and the rate of decrease in income was the highest at 34.0% in April. As a result of the multilevel analysis, the damage caused by COVID-19 was greater in regions with more confirmed patients, more careers, and fewer dental staff. The government should establish a compensation plan for hospitals and clinics to prevent the collapse of the medical system due to the prolonged COVID-19. In addition, support for dentistry should be provided to maintain the oral health care system in the future.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.439-451
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• 2012

Objectives : The goal of this study is to investigate how transformational leadership does affect empowerment, organizational commitment and service quality of dental clinics and hospitals and for their efficient human resources management in a rapidly changing business environment. Methods : For this, workers of a dental clinic and a hospital in Gyeongsangnam-do were selected and the survey was carried out during September 1 to 30 of 2011 and the total 203 questionnaires were analyzed. Results : The analysis of structural model shows that transformational leadership has no significant influence on empowerment but does affect organizational commitment and service quality. And the result also reveals that empowerment has significant effect on organizational commitment and service quality while organizational commitment influences service quality. Conclusion : For this, it is needed that the leader of organization promotes the spirit of his subordinates and helps them find their potential ability and achieve goals by developing various leadership skills to cope with rapidly changing environment of dental clinics and hospitals.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.751-761
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting choice of treatment hospital (i.e., determinants) and satisfaction with the treatment hospital, and to provide a more satisfactory and high-quality medical service for orthodontic patients. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted for approximately 1 month beginning in August 2017, involving patients who visited orthodontic dentistry clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Multiple regression analysis was performed on the results to examine factors that affected satisfaction with orthodontic treatment. Results: The determinant of dental clinics was 3.90 points overall; hospital environment and facilities were highest at 4.05, followed by dental hygienist at 3.99, and dentist at 3.97. Factors influencing satisfaction with orthodontic treatment were positively influenced by dentists (p<0.01), medical procedures (p<0.01) and medical expenses (p<0.01). Conclusions: It is important to provide comfort and convenience to patients by simplifying hospital facility management, reception, and reservation procedures.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity of microorganisms by quantitative and qualitative analysis of microorganisms before and after flushing of dental unit water. Methods: This study was conducted on the supply of high-speed handpieces, ultrasonic scalers, and air-water syringes, which sterilized from 10 dental unit chairs at a dental clinic in South Gyeongsang Province. The number of bacterial communities was calculated by collection before and after flushing (2, 4, and 6 minutes). Results: The mean number of bacteria in the handpiece water before flushing was $27,208CFU/m{\ell}$; 2 minutes after flushing, $2,180CFU/m{\ell}$; 4 minutes after flushing, $900CFU/m{\ell}$; and 6 minutes after flushing, $412CFU/m{\ell}$. Conclusions: To minimize the risk of cross-infection and intra-clinic infection in dental clinics, education and water quality monitoring may be needed.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.42
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• pp.25.1-25.13
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• 2020

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes serious acute respiratory diseases including pneumonia and bronchitis with approximately 2.3% fatality occurrence. Main body: This study argues the main concepts that need to be considered for the gradual reopening of dental offices include treatment planning approaches, fundamental elements needed to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus in dental healthcare settings, personal protection equipment (PPE) for dental health care providers, environmental measures, adjunctive measures, and rapid point of care tests in dental offices. Conclusion: This article seeks to provide an overview of existing scientific evidence to suggest a guideline for reopening dental offices.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.115-121
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• 2018

This study inquires into employee's intent to leave in South Korean dental clinics. A systematic research was undertaken on theories of leadership types, job satisfaction, organizational commitment and empowerment, and then interaction between these variables was verified based on quantitative data by using Structural Equation Model (SEM). The findings suggest that making improvements of empowerment, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment demand individualized consideration and charisma, the components of transformational leadership. As a way to reduce turnover intention, the role of job satisfaction and organizational commitment was more influential than that of empowerment. Also, a combination of charisma of transformational leadership and contingent reward of transactional leadership turned out to be the ideal leadership type to reduce turnover intention. Lastly, the harmony of individual goal with that of organization, apparent documentation of reward system, and stress control were recommended as practical solutions to improve organizational profitability and effectiveness and to reduce turnover rate in dental clinics.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.469-476
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the stains causing infections in dental clinics by analyzing bacterial contamination, as well as to suggest improvements for infection control in dental clinics. Methods: In this study, a questionnaire survey of 47 dental hospitals and clinics located in Gyeonggi-do and Incheon, South Korea was administered from June 2013 to September 2013 and used to investigate the practice rates of infection control by dental hygienists and to analyze the bacterial contamination levels in dental offices. Results: In the studied institutions, the bacterial contamination levels of water lines were $20.9{\times}10^3$ colony forming units (CFU)/mL for three-way syringes, $12.7{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ for high-speed handpieces and $9.8{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ for gargling water. The bacterial contamination levels of surfaces were $44.9{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in cuspidors, higher than in unit chairs ($2.9{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) and light handles ($6.7{\times}10^3CFU/mL$). The mean bacterial cell count of water lines and surfaces was relatively high in all establishments founded 11 years ago or more, and the mean bacterial cell count of waterline handpieces was $6.27{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in establishments founded between one and five years ago, $11.16{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ six to ten years ago and $20.04{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ 11 years ago or more, which suggests that earlier foundation is associated with higher bacterial contamination levels with a statistical difference (p<0.01). Similarly, the mean bacterial cell count of cuspidors using water from water lines was also $70.16{\times}10^3CFU/mL$ in at least 11-year-old establishments, statistically significantly higher among in one- to five-year-old ($4.61{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) and six- to ten-year-old clinics ($47.89{\times}10^3CFU/mL$) (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study may be utilized to improve the bacterial contamination levels in dental offices by controlling the characteristics and environmental factors of dental offices that affect the microbial contamination of waterlines and surfaces in such institutions.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.682-688
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• 2012

This study investigates the stressors of dental hygienists and student hygienists during the bedside training by the medical center type. The survey is based on some dental hygienists who are working for dental college hospitals, general hospitals, dental hospitals and dental clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi area which the Clinical Practice of dental hygienics students is under way in. Included are the students who are studying dental hygienics at Kyungbok University and have taken the bedside training in dental college hospitals, general hospitals, dental hospitals and dental clinics. A statistical analysis shows the following results using SPSS program. By medical center type, dental hygienists described the clinical practice of students as relatively satisfying. It also found that there is a positive correlation between stress zones, and they feel most stressed in the "Role and Activity" zone. Student hygienists felt relatively satisfied with the bedside training, and there is a positive correlation between stress zones except "Practice". It found students, who have taken the bedside training in all types of medical centers except dental clinics, felt most stressed in "Environment". It also found that students who have taken the bedside training in dental clinics felt most stressed in "Role and Activity". In conclusion, most of the dental hygienists are satisfied with students' clinical practice by pattern of hospital. Positive correlation was shown between stress factors. Behavior and attitude and ideal and value are high in stress in college dental hospitals, role and activity and treatment fields are high in stress in dental hospital, and interpersonal relationships are high in stress in dental clinics.