• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.52-72
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• 2012

In this study, we examined the effect of customer satisfaction and switching cost on continuous use intention to suggest how organizations can retain their customers when market growth slows down and competition becomes stronger. We carefully developed and modified survey instruments through a pre-test, and subsequently surveyed 432 dental care users in Seoul and Busan areas. As a result of regression analysis, higher procedural learning switching cost, relational switching cost, and customer satisfaction were manifested in the increased continuous use intention. In contrast, higher financial switching cost and customer satisfaction with insufficient effort for information acquisition led to decreased switching intention. In addition, procedural initial switching cost and residents in Seoul led to increased switching intention. Understanding continuous use intention and switching intention is important for healthcare institutions striving to maintain market position. The findings of this study suggest a paradigm shift from conventional transactional marketing to strategic relational marketing to be effective in the healthcare environment today.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 2014

The presence of radix entomolaris (RE) in a mandibular first molar is a common occurrence in certain ethnic groups, but the presence of RE in a mandibular second molar is a rare occurrence. In the present case, RE was identified from preoperative radiographs and confirmed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The access cavity was modified to locate the RE. Cleaning and shaping were performed with nickel-titanium rotary instruments. Obturation was completed with gutta-percha cones using AH Plus (Dentsply Detrey GmbH) as sealer. From the CBCT axial images, the RE was determined to have a Type III curvature by the De Moor classification, Type B separate RE by the Carlsen and Alexandersen classification, and radiographically, a Type i image by the Wang classification. The presence of RE in the mandibular second molar makes it essential to anticipate and treat the distolingual root canal. This case report highlights the usefulness of CBCT for assessing RE in the mandibular second molar, which can help the clinician in making a confirmatory diagnosis and assessing the morphology of the root canal.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.815-824
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between obesity and periodontal diseases in adults. Methods: The subjects were 6,762 adults over 19 years old selected from the 6th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013). The study instruments included periodontal status of periodontal diseases, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC). Periodontal status was evaluated by community periodontal index (CPI). Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program. Results: The prevalence of periodontal diseases was higher in male, older aged people, undereducated people, current smokers, and those having poor cognition for toothbrushing (p<0.001). The rate of obesity by BMI and WC was higher in male, older aged people and current smokers. The rate of obesity was lower in well-educated people and good practice of toothbrushing (p<0.001). The prevalence of periodontal diseases by BMI showed 0.565 times lower in underweight population, 1.302 times higher in overweight population, and 1.311 times higher in highly obese population than normal population. The prevalence of periodontal diseases by waist circumferences showed 1.404 times higher in obese population than the normal population (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is very important to promote periodontal disease prevention and education for obese population in Korea. The risk of periodontal diseases can be preventable by decrease of BMI and WC.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.51-54
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• 2013

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the important causative microbes for nosocomial infection and has been isolated from the dental environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of linalool and ${\alpha}$-terpineol against MRSA isolates from a Korean population. In the experiments, we determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of these two compounds against 18 strains of MRSA. The data revealed that the $MIC_{90}/MBC_{90}$ values of linalool and ${\alpha}$-terpineol against MRSA were >12.8 mg/ml and 6.4 mg/ml, respectively. These results indicate that ${\alpha}$-terpineol has more potent antimicrobial activity against MRSA than linalool and may have utility as an anti-MRSA cleansing agent for dental instruments and dental unit chairs.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.254-261
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• 2005

Dental statistics for Koreans are far from complete and the majority of previous researches have adopted techniques such as radiological analysis and sectioning of teeth for morphological information, which are time-consuming, less accurate and destructive. Thus, a new nondestructive method is necessary to get precise dental standardization data for Koreans. For the above purpose, each of the first premolars was scanned by a micro-CT (SkyScan, Belgium) with a resolution of $21.31{\mu}m$ at an interval of 0.022mm along the plane horizontally parallel to an occlusion plane. Internal and external morphological sections were measured and compared to the values in the average tooth size table for permanent teeth presented by G. V Black.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.304-309
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the maximum screw-in forces generated during the movement of various Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) file systems. Materials and Methods: Forty simulated canals in resin blocks were randomly divided into 4 groups for the following instruments: Mtwo size 25/0.07 (MTW, VDW GmbH), Reciproc R25 (RPR, VDW GmbH), ProTaper Universal F2 (PTU, Dentsply Maillefer), and ProTaper Next X2 (PTN, Dentsply Maillefer, n = 10). All the artificial canals were prepared to obtain a standardized lumen by using ProTaper Universal F1. Screw-in forces were measured using a custom-made experimental device (AEndoS-k, DMJ system) during instrumentation with each NiTi file system using the designated movement. The rotation speed was set at 350 rpm with an automatic 4 mm pecking motion at a speed of 1 mm/sec. The pecking depth was increased by 1 mm for each pecking motion until the file reach the working length. Forces were recorded during file movement, and the maximum force was extracted from the data. Maximum screw-in forces were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc comparison at a significance level of 95%. Results: Reciproc and ProTaper Universal files generated the highest maximum screw-in forces among all the instruments while M-two and ProTaper Next showed the lowest (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Geometrical differences rather than shaping motion and alloys may affect the screw-in force during canal instrumentation. To reduce screw-in forces, the use of NiTi files with smaller cross-sectional area for higher flexibility is recommended.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.435-443
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to compare the centering ratio and reduction of canal curvature according to the preparation sizes of #30, #40 and #50 using three rotary NiTi instruments which have different shaft tapers. Seventy-two simulated root canals in clear resin blocks (Endo Training Bloc; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) were divided as following 3 groups according to the file system; the 24 canal blocks prepared with each of ProTaper Universal system (Group P), LightSpeed eXtra system (Group L), and K3 (Group K). The pre- and post-instrumented root canals were scanned and superimposed to evaluate and calculate the centering ratio and reduction of canal curvature. Mean scores of each group were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOV A and Duncan's multiple range test for post-hoc comparison. The results were as followings: 1. Group L showed better centering ratio, followed by K and P. And all experimental groups generally showed increasing tendency of centering ratio as the apical size was increasing from #30 to #50, except at 1 mm level of group P where showed reducing tendency of centering ratio. The smaller the ratio, the better the instrument remained centered in the canal. 2. Group P showed more decrease of canal curvature at all apical shaping size (p < 0.05). Under the conditions of this study, the shaft design could affect the quality of canal shaping and the smooth taperless flexible (LightSpeed) shaft design was capable of preparing canals with good morphological characteristics in curved canals.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.193-204
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• 2019

Purpose: The reaction of cells to a titanium implant depends on the surface characteristics of the implant which are affected by decontamination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytocompatibility of titanium disks treated with various decontamination methods, using salivary bacterial contamination with dental pellicle formation as an in vitro model. Methods: Sand-blasted and acid-etched (SA) titanium disks were used. Three control groups (pristine SA disks [SA group]; salivary pellicle-coated SA disks [pellicle group]; and biofilm-coated, untreated SA disks [NT group]) were not subjected to any decontamination treatments. Decontamination of the biofilm-coated disks was performed by 14 methods, including ultrasonic instruments, rotating instruments, an air-powder abrasive system, a laser, and chemical agents. MG63 cells were cultured in the presence of the treated disks. Cell proliferation assays were performed on days 2 and 5 of cell culture, and cell morphology was analyzed by immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) assay was performed on day 5 of culture. Results: The cell proliferation assay revealed that all decontaminated disks, except for the 2 groups treated using a plastic tip, showed significantly less cell proliferation than the SA group. The immunofluorescence and SEM analyses revealed that most groups showed comparable cell density, with the exception of the NT group, in which the cell density was lower and bacterial residue was observed. Furthermore, the cells grown with tetracycline-treated titanium disks showed significantly lower VEGF production than those in the SA group. Conclusions: None of the decontamination methods resulted in cytocompatibility similar to that of pristine SA titanium. However, many methods caused improvement in the biocompatibility of the titanium disks in comparison with the biofilm-coated, untreated titanium disks. This suggests that decontamination is indispensable for the treatment of peri-implantitis, even if the original biocompatibility cannot be restored.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.279-296
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine what types of experiences dental hygienists underwent with patients who were unapproachable in an effort to find out the latter group's needs and expectations, explore how to treat them of different personality type, and provide better dental services in response to their needs. To attain the purpose, Q-methodology was employed, which made a subjective and systematic assessment of human subjectivity. There were three types of subjectivity among dental hygienists in conjunction with their experiences with patients who were hard to please. Each group whose subjectivity was different also had a different preference for patients, which was not exclusive to one another but unique. Type 1 was "avoiding patients who showed off". Dental hygienists of this type found it unpleasant to treat patients who boasted of their background, position or relations with the head of hospital and wanted to be given special treatment. They avoided those patients, since giving special treatment to specific patients was likely to do damage to others. They believed that better medical services could be provided through mutual concern and good manners between medical personnels and patients. Dental hygienists of type 2 considered it hard to treat patients who were picky and looked at treatment or its outcome negatively. Those who had to be separated from others on account of possible cross-infection or who called for special decontamination methods of dental instruments were also difficult to deal with. Dental hygienists of this type could be said to "avoid picky patients", as they preferred to fare with patients by offering good, faithful treatment rather than by giving special treatment. Dental hygienists of type 3 believed that smooth and successful treatment hinged on mutual trust, confidence and collaboration between medical personnels and patients. According to them, patients who choose a specific hospital or a particular medical team at their own option have to cooperate if necessary, listen carefully to medical personnels and treat them without any hostility or bias. Therefore, they could be said to "avoid patients who were not cooperative".

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.461-467
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Q-ray view, a novel optical device on reliability of assessing a tooth status by dental hygiene students in the training for dental hygiene process. Twenty patients were enrolled in this study. Oral examinations were conducted by both seventeen third-year dental hygiene students and a trained faculty member. Traditional visual inspection was performed in phase I and then re-examined with Q-ray view in phase II. Restoration codes and lesion codes for each tooth were recorded separately according to the predefined criteria. As a measure of reliability, percent agreement and Cohen's kappa were determined. Agreements for each intraoral regions and types of lesion and restoration were calculated. Paired t-test and Pearson chi-square test for two proportions were used to compare mean Cohen's kappa and percent agreement at each phase. For the lesion code, mean kappa values of phase II for intraoral regions were significantly greater than that of phase I (p=0.017). For the both of the lesion code and restoration code, percent agreements of phase II for each types of lesion and restoration were significantly greater than that of phase II (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Especially difference of percent agreements between phase I and II for incipient caries, caries and fracture were significant for the lesion code (p=0.046, p<0.001, and p=0.029, respectively) and for not restored or sealed, tooth-colored restoration were significant for the restoration code (p<0.001 and p=0.011, respectively). The reliability of assessing a tooth status was improved when the Q-ray view used in dental hygiene student with beginner level of expertise. Q-ray view can be a promising device for conducting and educating the dental hygiene process better.