• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.206-225
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• 2012

General status of pediatric dentistry in Korea is to conduct vigorous academic activities and specialized medical care centering the Korean Association of Pediatric Dentistry (KAPD) that has about 1,000 pediatric dentists as members, pediatric dentistry departments of 11 Colleges of Dentistry, numbers of pediatric dentistry training institutions and private clinics specialized in children. From 1996, the accredited pediatric dentists were produced by the KAPD and from 2008, the state began to produce the accredited pediatric dentists. Since then, doctors with expertise in pediatric care had opened private clinics in addition to the university hospitals, it became the basis of a momentum to deepen the specialty of pediatric dentistry. The Dentistry community of Korea is going through rapid and profound changes recently, and the underlying reasons for such changes can be classified largely into a few categories: (1) Decreasing population and structural changes in population (2) Increase in numbers of dentists, (3) Changes in the pattern of dental diseases and (4) Changes in medical environment. In Korea, the children population in the age range of 0 ~ 14 years old had been decreased by 2 million in 2010 compared to that of 2000 due to reduction of birth rate. The current population of children in the age range of 0 ~ 4 years old in 2010 takes up 16.2% of the total population, but it is estimated that such percentage would decrease to 8.0% by 2050. Such percentage is largely behind the estimated mean global population of 19.6% by 2050. On the other hand, the number of dentists had been largely increased from 18,000 in 2000 to 25,000 in 2010. And it is estimated that the number will be increased to 41,000 by 2030. In addition, the specialized personnel of Pediatric dentistry had been shown as increased by 2.5 times during past 10 years. For the changes in the pattern of dental diseases, including dental caries, each df rate of 5 years old children and 12 years old children had been decreased by 21.9% and 16.7% respectively in 2010 compared to 2000. Each df Index also had been decreased by 2.5 teeth and 1.2 teeth respectively. The medical expenditure of Korea is less than that of OECD and more specifically, the expenditure from the National Health Plan is less than OECD but the expenditure covered by households is larger than OECD. These facts indicate that it is considered as requiring the coverage of the national health plan to be reinforced more in the future and as such reinforcement needs continuous promotion. In medical examination pattern of Pediatric dentistry, the preventive and corrective treatment were increased whereas the restorative treatment was decreased. It is considered that such change is caused from decrease of dental caries from activation of the prevention project at national level. For the restorative treatment, the restorations in use of dental amalgam, pre-existing gold crowning and endodontic treatment had been decreased in their proportion while the restorative treatment in use of composite resin had been increased. It is considered that such changes is caused by the change of demands from patients and family or guardians as they desired more aesthetic improvement along with socio-economic growth of Korean society. Due to such changes in dentistry, the pediatric dentistry in Korea also attempts to have changes in the patterns of medical examination as follows; It tends to implement early stage treatment through early diagnosis utilizing various diagnostic tools such as FOTI or QLF. The early stage dental caries so called white spot had been included in the subjects for dental care or management and in order to do so, the medical care guidelines essentially accompanied with remineralization treatment as well as minimally invasive treatment is being generalized gradually. Also, centering the Pediatric dentists, the importance of caries risk assessment is being recognized, in addition that the management of dental caries is being changed from surgical approach to internal medicinal approach. Recently, efforts began to emerge in order to increase the target patients to be managed by dentists and to expand the application scope of Pediatric dentistry along with through such changes. The interest and activities of Pediatric dentists which had been limited to the medical examination room so far, is now being expanded externally, as they put efforts for participating in the preventive policy making process of the community or the state, and to support the political theories. And also opinions are being collected into the direction that the future- oriented strategic political tasks shall be selected and researches as well as presentations on the theoretical rationale of such tasks at the association level.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.201-218
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine how dentists perceived dental coordinators including their education, hiring criteria, working condition and job. It's basically attempted to help define the job and role of 5 and to suggest how they should be nurtured. The subjects in this study were dentists at dental hospitals and clinics where dental coordinators were employed among approximately 200 dental institutions in Seoul, Cyeonggi province and Incheon. After a survey was conducted in June 2005, answer sheets from 99 respondents were analyzed. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. Regarding education for dental coordinators, 99.9% of the dentists investigated felt the need for separate education programs for dental coordinators, 42.4% knew what would-be dental coordinators learned about, and 81.8% considered it necessary for them to take intermediate or higher courses. An organization affiliated with the Korea Dental Hygienists Association was viewed as the best institute to educate dental coordinators, and educational institutes that included a department of dental hygiene was looked upon as the second best one. 68.7% believed that dental coordinators should take an official examination to test their qualifications, and concerning educational subsidy, the largest group of the dentists thought that a certain amount of subsidy should be provided. 2. As for coordinator hiring, the top priority was the impression(look) of applicants(55%), followed by adjustability to existing employees(24.5%) and professional competency(17.3%). As to the route of hiring, 41.4 percent, the largest group, reeducated some of existing employees, and dental hygienists were regarded as the best personnels to serve as a coordinator. Concerning job performance, they put the most emphasis on interpersonal relationship, which was followed by executive ability, impression and career, 58.6% the largest group, believed that dental coordinators should have a three-year or higher career to work at a dental institute. 3. As to working conditions, 75.7%, the largest group, paid dental coordinators based on their job performance, and 23.2%, the second largest group, had their pay equal to that of dental hygienists, 88.9% allowed them to determine their own retirement age. 4. In regard to their perception of dental coordinators, the largest number of the dentists considered it necessary for them to keep receiving education(4.29), and the second largest group felt that they served to enhance the image of dental institutes(4.18). The third largest group thought that they contributed to letting patients more satisfied with the quality of dental services. But they tended not to agree that their turnover rate was low(3.04), and they didn't find them to receive appropriate education, either(3.10). 5. The current major job of coordinators associated with customer services was handling appointments with customers(91.9%), treating unsatisfied customers(85.9%), and controling waiting time(84.8%). Regarding self-management, coordinators directed their energy into having good manners(89.9%), acquiring fundamental dental knowledge(84.8%), and learning how to treat customers(83.8%). Concerning hospital affairs handling, they were most responsible for information desk(87.9%), which was followed by receiving(86.9%). As a result of investigating what type of job the dentists hoped dental coordinators to fulfill in consideration of their career, their age and type of investment, the dentists wanted them the most to speak a foreign language, which belonged to the field of self-management.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.9-19
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the state of conflicts among dental health care workers. A survey was conducted on 266 dental hygienists and nursing assistants who worked in dental institutions from September 12 to November 13, 2017, and SPSS(statistical package for the social science) version 20.0 was employed to analyze the collected data. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. The most common reason of the dental hygienists for turnover was working hours and heavy workload(24.6%), followed by pay (22.6%), conflicts with dentists(16.0%) and conflicts with colleagues (11.3%). The most dominant reason of the nursing assistants for turnover was pay(31.1%), followed by working hours(24.4%), heavy workload(17.8%), conflicts with dentists(15.6%) and conflicts with colleagues(8.9%). 2. The largest reason for unsuccessful communication with dentists was that heavy workload reduced the opportunity to communicate well(54.5%). The second biggest reason was that they couldn't communicate well though they had the opportunity(24.0%), and the third greatest reason was that they tended to lag behind dentists in terms of professional knowledge(16.9%). 3. The biggest reason for unsuccessful communication among the dental health care workers was that they didn't have a lot of chances to communicate well on account of heavy workload(41.0%). The second largest reason was the differences in professional knowledge(24.9%), and the third greatest reason was that they couldn't communicate well though they had the chance(23.7%). 4. The most dominant reason for conflicts with dentists was the difference in power(24.0%), followed by poor communication skills(22.1%) and a lack of mutual respect(18.1%). But the opinions of the nursing assistants were different from those of the dental hygienists, as they cited poor communication skills as the most common reason, which was followed by the difference in power and a shortage of understanding of each other's work. 5. The most common reason for conflicts among the dental health care workers was a shortage of communication and communication skills(22.9%), and the second most dominant reasons were a lack of mutual respect and poor understanding of each other's work(17.5%), followed by a lack of mutual respect(17.2%). 6. As to the ways of resolving conflicts with dentists, the most common case was making some mutual concessions to compromise (28.9%), followed by delivering opinions through the staff meeting (23.9%), resolving conflicts by candidly exchanging opinions(15.8%), avoiding each other in moderation(11.7%) and following the opinions or assertions of dentists(1.3%). 7. Concerning the conflict resolution methods among the dental health care workers, the most prevalent way was making some mutual concessions to compromise(36.4%), followed by resolving conflicts by candidly exchanging opinions(23.0%) and conveying opinions through the staff meeting(18.5%). 8. Regarding communication among the dental health care workers, the dental hygienists(3.53±.729) considered themselves to be better at communicating than the nursing assistants(3.29±.745) did(p<0.05), and the dental hygienists(3.45±.809) who thought there was respectful treatment among workers who were different in occupational categories found themselves to be better than the nursing assistants(3.21±.952) who had the same thought did(p<0.05). As a result of analyzing whether frequent job-related meetings occurred among the workers whose occupational categories were different, the dental hygienists(3.05±.975) perceived that there were more frequent meetings than the nursing assistants(2.67±.955) did (p<0.01).

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.429-438
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• 1994

Since the introduction of pit and fissure sealants in the early 1970's, many studies have been published amply documenting the efficacy of these materials as caries-preventive agents. However, the acceptance of the technique by dentist has been questionable. This survey was investigated the attitudes toward and use of pit and fissure sealants by dentist in Chonbuk area. The results were as follows: 1. Utilization of pit and fissure sealants is very high. Only 15% of dentists never use pit and fissure sealants, whereas 85% generally use pit and fissure sealants. 2. Most dentists reported that their knowledge of pit and fissure sealants was gained through dental schools education. 3. Concern about difficult to sell' to patient, poor retention of pit and fissure sealants and unsubstantiated by research were given as the main reasons why pit and fissure sealants was not used. 4. Patient demands and various educate program were given as important factors that would lead to increase use of pit and fissure sealants.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to furnish data on the disabled's oral health status of the disabled in Busan, Korea. Material and Methods: Two dentists who were well experienced in caries examination surveyed the oral health status on 793 of disabled men in Busan from March to June in 2000 under natural solar light with plane mirror by the criteria which are suggested by World Health Organization (WHO). Results: The number of present permanent teeth of the disabled are lower than the undisabled. DMF rate and DMFT indices of the disabled were higher than the undisabled. DT rate of the disabled was higher than the undisabled. Conclusions: The development of community oral health care programs for the prevention and treatments of dental caries for the disabled is needed and active administrative policies should be established for the promotion of the disabled's oral health.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.44 no.10 s.449
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• pp.647-657
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• 2006

By organizing the results of study questioned 1,620 dentists working nationwide in 2005, we concluded the followings. 1. The smoking rate of dentist is 29.69%. 2. 60.9% of current dentist smokers responded that they started smoking at the age of 20-24, during their dental school ages. 3. 67.41% of respondents have no idea of cyber antismoking campaign launched by Korean Dental Association, and 94.07% of respondents didn t receive formal education about smoking cessation. 4. 59.01% of respondents want to educate patients about smoking cessation in dental clinics but couldn t help putting it off for practical reasons. The reasons include their busy office hour(36.30%), difficulties in collecting proper smoking cessation documents(25.10%), and lack of their own knowledge in renunciation of smoking. (18,83%) 5. As dental healthcare personnels, they agreed with their status and duty of leading role in national renunciation of smoking. (R>80%) 6. 83.34% of dentists agreed that if educational antismoking program is arranged by Korean Dental Association, they should receive the education.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-107
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• 1995

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinician's detectability in the diagnosis of bone loss in the bifurcation of mandibular molars on periapical radiographs and Digital images. Periapical radiographs were obtained of the first molars in 2 dry mandibles after preparation of bony defects corresponding to degree I, degree II and degree III buccal furcation involvements. The radiographs were randomly presented to 39 clinicians(1 oral radiologist, 4 periodontist, 34 general dentists) who were asked to determine the presence or absence of bone loss. Periapical films were digitized with a TV camera. Digital images were assessed by 15 clinicians(1 oral radiologist, 4 periodontist, 10 general dentists). I. the overall diagnostic accuracy of Digital images for detection of bone loss in the bifurcation of mandibular molars was higher than that of the periapical radiographs. 2. the largest increase in diagnostic accuracy was found between lesion grade II and III on both radiographs and Digital images(P<0.05). 3. there was no significant difference between the standard state and the controlled contrast state on Digital images. 4. the overall diagnostic accuracy of I radiologist and 4 periodontists was better than that of the general dentists for detecting bifurcation involvements.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 1980

In dental roentgenograph it is of mutual benefit to the patient and the dentist to use the minimum amount of radiation capable of producing roentgenograms with maximum interprtive informations. Recent increases in the number of diagnostic x-ray examinations made in this country have caused attention to be paid to the quantity of radiation delivered to the population and operator. The purposes of this study was to assess the quality of dental x-ray units, the amount of films, the average processing procedures and the radiation protection methods in korea. The results were as following: 1. Most of radiation generating system were used in low voltage such as 60Kvp, 10㎃. 2. High sensitivity films such as 'D' group of Kodak or Rinn were mainly used and average 14.7 films used per weeks. 3. Some dentists practiced visual processing technic in simple dark room, and others used instant films. 4. 68.26% of patient held the film themselves, but 27.30% were assisted by dentists film holding. 5. In radiation protection method, 7.85% of dentists had protection equipments such as protective barrier, 2.73% wore protective apron, 27.9% made it a rules to avoid beam, and 7.51% used to maintain a distance from the radiation source.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.103-110
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• 2013

Background: Recently the use of sedation by pediatric dentists in Korea is increased. This study describes training programs about sedation practices in Korean pediatric dentistry residency program. Methods: A questionnaire was filled in by participants of Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry on 17th-18th August, 2008. Also the data about sedation practices of the training institution is collected by phone call. Results: Seventy two percent of respondents used sedation. Most of them used sedation with agents under 25% of their patients. Distribution of ages in patients sedated with agents was 3 years, 4-5 years, under 2 years, 6-10 years, and more than 10 years. Determinative factors of using sedation were behavior management, number of visiting, amount of treatment and general condition, and oral route was the most favorable route. Sixty six percent of them have failed on sedation, and thity percent of them have rarely failed on sedation. Only fifty percent of dentists using sedation completed the cardiopulmonary resuscitation course. Conclusions: For safety, dentists using sedation need to be educated about emergency equipment and management. Especially medication dose, use frequency and the detail related to treatment procedure should be discussed carefully. Also putting a patient under general anesthesia and taking emergency measures should be discussed with Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.8
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• pp.530-537
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• 2015

Conceptually, the emergency is classified as an urgency and an emergency. The Urgency is not immediately life threatening, but could become so if not resolved promptly. So, it requires prompt patient care same as in the emergency situation. However, the emergency is immediately life threatening and requires immediate action, such as calling 119 and basic life support. Most medical emergencies in the dental clinic cases are urgencies. The incidence of true emergencies is approximately 1/1,000,000. Adequate managing medical urgencies are important because the chance of encountering medical emergencies in the dental clinic is high and higher these days especially because of rapidly aging Korean society. Many dentists indicate that many dentists feel difficulties to recognize and treat medical problems. This paper reviews the concept of medical emergencies and how to cope with commonly occurring urgencies in the dental clinic such as loss of consciousness, hypoglycemia, hyperventilation syndrome. The best treatment for medical urgencies and emergencies in the dental clinic is prevention. Also, it is required to make preparation for emergency situations such as CPR education for dentists and being well-acquainted with equipment and drugs for the emergency care as well as to systemic medical evaluation, patient monitoring, and sedations for controlling patient's anxiety and pain. In this paper, simple algorithms based on guidelines for common urgencies in the dental clinic are suggested. In conclusion, every dentist has competencies to do the urgency care adequately and basic life support. Also, advanced cardiac life support is strongly recommended when sedation is performed in the clinic.