• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine any possible differences among adolescents in unmet dental care needs according to their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and oral health status and influential factors on the basis of the fifth national health and nutrition examination survey data. The findings of the study were as follows: Unmet dental care needs were accounted for 19.84 percent. As for the reason, many replied that they couldn't afford to leave school during school hours, and economic factors. As a result of analyzing what affected their unmet dental care needs, this experience was more common in the older age groups than in the 6~12 years age group, and the experience was less common in the respondents with a larger income. As for the subjective oral health status, the experience was 0.61-fold and 0.72-fold less in the respondents who perceived their health as fair or good than who thought their health was poor respectively. And there was a tendency that getting regular dental checkups led to 0.22-fold less experience. Given the above-mentioned findings, the kind of policy that makes dental care services more accessible to youth in consideration of socioeconomic circumstances should be carried out. As many of the adolescents couldn't leave school during school hours, schools should be equipped with dental clinics to improve accessibility to dental care services.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Esthetic Dentistry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2019

Objective: Dental fear is a feeling of anxiety and fear without intervention during a dental visit, mainly due to past negative dental treatment experiences, and in adults, despite the recognition of the need for dental treatment, it can lead to avoidance of dental treatment, which may cause deterioration of oral health. Therefore, this study was conducted to measure dental fear and anxiety level in some adults, and to identify related factors and their causes. Methods: This study used Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey scale and the SPSS 21 program (IBM SPSS Statistics 21) was used for analysis. Result: When the dental fear was the higher, the "access to the dental clinic" was found to be the highest, followed by "sitting in dental unit chair" and "smell of dental clinic" in that order. Conclusions: Dentists and dental hygienists should be able to understand the fear, anxiety, and concerns of the dentist office and to find various ways to provide systematic medical services.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.348-354
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• 2011

Objectives: This cross-sectional study was performed in the Dental School of Prince of Songkla University to ascertain noise exposure of dentists, dental assistants, and laboratory technicians. A noise spectral analysis was taken to illustrate the spectra of dental devices. Methods: A noise evaluation was performed to measure the noise level at dental clinics and one dental laboratory from May to December 2010. Noise spectral data of dental devices were taken during dental practices at the dental services clinic and at the dental laboratory. A noise dosimeter was set following the Occupational Safety and Health Administration criteria and then attached to the subjects' collar to record personal noise dose exposure during working periods. Results: The peaks of the noise spectrum of dental instruments were at 1,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz which depended on the type of instrument. The differences in working areas and job positions had an influence on the level of noise exposure (p < 0.01). Noise measurement in the personal hearing zone found that the laboratory technicians were exposed to the highest impulsive noise levels (137.1 dBC). The dentists and dental assistants who worked at a pedodontic clinic had the highest percent noise dose (4.60 ${\pm}$ 3.59%). In the working areas, the 8-hour time-weighted average of noise levels ranged between 49.7-58.1 dBA while the noisiest working area was the dental laboratory. Conclusion: Dental personnel are exposed to noise intensities lower than occupational exposure limits. Therefore, these dental personnel may not experience a noise-induced hearing loss.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of demographic characteristics and oral health status on unmet dental needs among preschool children and to provide a basis for improvement of the dental care equality and accessibility using data from the $6^{th}$ National Health and Nutrition Survey. Methods: This study was performed using data collected from the $6^{th}$ National Health and Nutrition Survey. The subjects were 1,472 out of 22,940 people, who participated in the survey and under went oral examination. IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 20.0) was used for statistical analyses based on the complex sampling design. Frequency analysis was performed to determine the distribution of unmet dental needs according to the characteristics of the subjects. The Rao-Scott ${\chi}^2$ test was performed to examine the relationship of unmet dental needs with general characteristics and health- and oral health-related variables. Relevant factors were determined using binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The factors that had statistically significant relations with unmet dental needs included age, medical insurance, household income, limited physical activity, history of dental caries in deciduous teeth, and subjective health status. Logistic regression analysis of complex samples was conducted to determine factors related to unmet dental needs. The results of analysis showed that limited physical activity and history of dental caries in deciduous teeth were related to unmet dental needs. Conclusions: The results show the factors affecting, and the reasons for, the unmet dental needs of preschool children. Future studies are needed to develop national projects and oral health education reforms to address inequalities in preschool children's dental care.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.200-205
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of dental hygienists in Japan. The study explicated the history, core curriculum, National Examination for Dental Hygienists, work roles of dental hygienists, and workplaces of dental hygienists. This study was based on the government policy report on dental hygienists and the information published by each public institution. The latest statistics presented by the institutions were collected through official websites. The employment information of graduates from Hiroshima University was analyzed based on actual field study. The results of the study revealed that social demand for dental hygienists has steadily increased and policies and education have been revised accordingly. The work roles of dental hygienists have expanded to meet the needs of the treatment and those of public health fields. In line with major policy changes, the educational period has been extended from 1 year to 3 or 4 years, while the mandatory credits for graduation have been established. Licensing examinations were being performed by the local governments since 1948 due to the different situations of dental hygienists in different areas. In 1992, they were converted into a single national examination. The work roles have expanded from assisting dental treatments to health guidance, home care, and perioperative care. Consequently, the number of dental hygienists has increased, especially in healthcare facilities for the elderly. Dental hygienists perform various roles. However, the most essential role is to provide the best oral care services to the patient. The expected role of dental hygienists has expanded in alignment with public healthcare needs and support for the elderly. The government and universities are expected to bring about improvements such as diversifying the channels of education and establishing policies to respond to growing patient needs by cultivating excellent dental hygiene professionals.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.354-360
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the present status of nutrition services for infants in public health centers and the need for nutrition services of health workers and infants mothers. The study subjects were 146 health workers and 197 infants mothers. The results were as follows : At present, the only major nutrition services for infants were vaccination and dental care. Proper nutrition management services were available to infants. Nutrition knowledge scores were 16.8 for health workers and 15.3 for mothers out of 20 possible points. Health workers strongly demanded a well-organized nutrition education program, government support, audio-visual materials and the employment of a community nutritionist. The public health workers, in particular, demanded the development of education programs for breastfeeding and weaning. The infants mothers demanded services of nutrition information and teaching of cooking and menu planning. Based on this, the results suggest that the employment of a community nutritionist and the development of practical nutrition service programs for infants are needed very urgently for public health centers.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.195-203
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to provide framework for understanding women's preventive dental utilization. In this paper Andersen-Newman's model is applied to the use of dental visits. This model consists of predisposing, enabling, and need components that describe a person's decision to use preventive health services. The sample consisted of 1907 women living Iksan city. Models are operationalized using stepwise multiple regression analysis and path analysis. The number of independent variables used in the analysis was 27 in total, i.e. 20 predisposing components, 6 enabling components, and 1 need component. Preventive dental utilization was measured based on the number of visits. The data collected by means of a questionnaire survey. In this study, the amount of variance by the model was 11 percent. Number of restricted activity days caused by oral disease, perceived threat of dental disease, having a regular dental care, and income were found to have significant major effects on preventive dental utilization of women. Number of restricted activity days caused by oral disease was the most important variable affecting preventive dental utilization of women.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.925-932
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between diabetes mellitus and oral disease in the Korea adults by using the representative data of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V. Methods: Using data from a cross-sectional survey of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V. The subjects were 5,602 adults over 19 years old. The survey data and the examination data are used for the independent variables. KNHANES included health status, nutrition survey, and oral examination. The health status was obtained by a self-reported questionnaire of the study subjects and direct interview was carried out on economic status, prevalence rate, and use of medical services. Results: The regular dental checkup of diabetes patients was significantly lower than the general population. Regular dental visits allow adults to receive early diagnosis and obtain restorative care at the first visit. The regular annual oral examination is very important to prevent and manage the chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus can be fully prevented and managed by the regular annual dental checkup. The establishment of the regular dental checkup system can prevent and manage the complication due to diabetes mellitus and other chronic diseases.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.417-427
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to provide basic information about oral health behavior of dental technology department students. Questionnaire surveys were conducted for 925 dental technology department student. Their knowledge and attitude towards oral health and health education services utilization were surveyed. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Ever thought most of the students recognized that oral health was an important health issue, there were more subjects who lowly regarded the level of the perceived self-oral health knowledge than who regarded highly. Female students were negative on the state of their oral health than male students. 2. On the water fluoridation program, 52.2% of the respondents replied that they do know well about the program and 44.1% of them supported the execution of the program. Female students approved of fluoridation program than male students. 3. Number of mean tooth brushing was 2.71 times a day, the most frequently exhibited time of doing tooth brushing was after taking a breakfast or before going to bed. 4. The students who had experiences of visiting dental clinics for the past 1 year were 47.7% and the purpose of visiting dental clinics for the last time was to conduct caries treatment.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 2011

Objectives : This study of oral health problems was conducted to 311 students in Special Schools in order to inquire into the state of their oral health behaviors, to find out the main obstacles against dental services, to secure dental reasonable basis for oral health promotion. Methods : A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Special School of the 311 students in the area of the metropolitan Seoul. By means of Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test, oral hygiene habits for each type of the subjects, the contents of dental care services, the prerequisites to improve oral health, were inquired. To evaluate the effects to the current oral health status of types of disability, 2-way ANOVA was practiced. Results : The handicapped with Visual impairment, mental retardation, multiplicity with disabilities, answered negatively in their own oral health status. 47.4% of the deaf can do brush for theirselves without the inconvenience, but in other types of disability they showed that they were helped by others. Subjects did not use the secondary oral hygiene necessaries because, except brain damage, almost of types of disability impeded the convenient use. 60 to 88.2 percent of the total respondents were the recent visitors to dental clinique within 1 year, and the most common motives of the visiting dentist, is a routine medical examination, their movements to the dentist in all types of disabilities, needed helps of others. Most of them received medical treatment at a private dentist, the handicapped preferred the private care and place(49.8%). Only in the case of the brain disorders, extremely much of the disabled answered that they were needed the preventive treatment, and the another cases of disability were largely needed the treatment of the decayed teeth. To improve the oral health of the people with disabilities, at the opening of the clinics and hospitals over a certain size, the mandatory medical facilities for the care of the disabled should be preceded and followed by the improvement of dental insurance system so as to reduce the burdens of the cost of dental care. Conclusions : The improvement of oral health policy for the disabled are needed inevitably: Development of secondary oral hygienic easy to use for the disabled, the building systems of medical dental hospital with the disabled facilities, by the improvement of the insurance system, the reduction of the burden of payments.