• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.23 no.2 s.189
• /
• pp.161-164
• /
• 1985

This study was carried out for the purpose of evaluating the blood mercury concentration of dentists in Korea. Samples of blood were collected from 35 dentists during daily practice in November, 1984. The mercury level in the blood was measured by mercury analyses system (Sugiyama-Gen Environmental Science Co. LTD) The result obtained from this study ws the mean of total blood mercury level of dentists was 41.62 μg/100ml and the range 17.3μg/100ml~133.3μg/100ml.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.44 no.12 s.451
• /
• pp.816-829
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of perception and preference between dentists and lay people to altered facial profile. The assessors consisted of 40 dentists and 54 lay people, the survey was performed using questionnaire asking the order of perception and preference. The profiles presented in the questionnaire were based on the profile of one man and one woman, each morphed according to anterior or posterior direction of maxilla and mandible. The results were as follows. 1. In antero-posterior change of man and woman s profile, both dentists and lay people were sensitive to relatively skeletal profile (convex profile) changes than skeletal profile (concave profile) changes. 2. At least dentists needed to be perceived a 2 mm change in convex profile and a 3 mm change in concave profile and lay people needed to be perceived a 2 mm change in convex profile and a 3 mm change in concave profile for profile view. 3. Dentists are more sensitive in perception of man s profile change than lay people, but there is no significant differences between dentists and lay people in sensitivity of detection for woman s profile changes . 4. It seems that there is a general concordance between dentists and lay people in there perception of man s and woman s facial profile. This information might be clinician in comprehensive perception and preference of dentists and lay people to altered facial profile.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.308-314
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to assess the dentists' subjective satisfaction with the crestal approach sinus (CAS) kit, a device for maxillary sinus membrane elevation by the crestal approach using a special drilling system and hydraulic pressure, and to summarize the subjective satisfaction of dental implants placed after a sinus lift procedure with the CAS kit. Methods: Thirty dental clinicians who had experience with dental implant placement after a sinus lift procedure with the CAS kit from June 2010 to May 2012 were included in this study. The questionnaire for the evaluation of the dentists' subjective satisfaction with the CAS kit was sent to the respondents and returned. The questionnaire was composed of two main parts. The first part was related to the sinus membrane perforation rate. The second part was related to the dentists' subjective satisfaction with the CAS kit. Results: A total of 28 dentists answered the questionnaire. Among 924 implant cases, sinus membrane perforation occurred in 38 cases (4.1%). Among the 28 dentists, 26 dentists (92.9%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the CAS kit. In particular, 24 dentists (85.7%) reported that safety, cutting performance, and user-friendliness of the CAS drill were advantages of the CAS kit. However, 7 dentists (25%) did not routinely use the hydraulic lifter for sinus membrane elevation. Conclusions: From the survey, it was shown that the respondents were generally satisfied with the CAS kit and that the cutting performance and safety of the drill component were considered strengths of the CAS kit.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.137-147
• /
• 2007

Dentists are known to be highly exposed to the musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The present study investigated the prevalence of MSD among Korean dentists and association between their MSD and physical workload. In addition, work-related causes of high physical workload were identified and needs of dentists were collected for improvement of dental instrument and environment. Four types of questionnaires including the Nordic questionnaire were used to investigate body troubles, physical workload, causes of physical workload, and improvement priority of dental components. A total of 104 dentists in Seoul were participated in the survey. Neck trouble (82%) was the most prevalent in the participated dentists and shoulder (68%) and low back trouble (56%) followed, while low back trouble was reported to be most common in previous western studies. The body troubles were related to the physical workload of the corresponding body parts, although they were not associated with personal characteristics. Most dentists selected 'to keep direct view inside patient's mouth' and 'no support of the hand with dental instruments' as causes of awkward and strenuous work postures. They wanted design improvement for some components in their operating room such as operating light and arrangement of workplace.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.81-99
• /
• 1993

The purpose of this research is to assess the geographical distribution of physicians and dentists and the degree of maldistribution of the physician. Data were obtained form the Korean Medical Association's report on physicians registry and census for 1990. To assess the degree of disparity in the rural-urban distribution of physician manpower and to identify changes in the distribution pattern, the Gini index of concentration was used. Major findings are as follows; 1. Urban-rural disparity in the distribution of physician manpower exists in all categories of manpower, i.e. physician, dentist, oriental medical doctor, general practitioner, medical specialist, practitioner, public health physician and public health dentist. Urban area which had 74.4% of nation's population, accounted for over 90% of all physician manpower. 2. In terms of the ration of physician manpower per 10, 000 population, in urban area, they were 8.2 physicians, 2.7 general practitioners, 5.5 specialists, 3.0 practitioners, 1.8 dentists and 1.3 oriental medical doctors. In rural area, the ratios were 1.4 physicians, 0.6 general practitioners, 0.9 specialists, 1.0 practitioners, 0.4 dentists and 0.4 oriental medical doctors. 3. Gini indicies computed to measure inequality of physician manpower distribution were 0. 3675 for physicians, 0.3372 for general practitioners, 0.3338 for specialists, 0.2263 for practitioners, 0.3132 for dentists and 0.3293 for oriental medical doctors. 4. Inspite of increase in the number of physician manpower, urban concentration of physician manpower intensified from 1980 to 1990. However, the Gini index for all physician manpower fell by 18.3~36.7% from 1980 to 1990, indicating more even distribution. 5. In rural area, the public health physicians and dentists had increased the ratios of physicians, general practitioners, practitioners and dentists per 10, 000 population remarkebly, and had decreased the Gini indicies of physicians, general practitioners, practitioners and dentists. Thus, public health physicians and dentists contributed to improve the distribution of physician manpower in rural area. Based on the results of this study, long-term and rational manpower policies should be developed to solve the problem of geographical maldistribution of physician manpower as well as short-term policy for inducing physicians to the rural areas.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.107-116
• /
• 2020

Objectives: This study applied the co-orientation model to investigate the degree to which dental hygienists and dentists recognize the efficiency of dental hygienists' non-surgical periodontal therapy work; the basic data can be provided as a systematic arrangement that can be applied and extended to dental clinics to raise mutual understanding. Methods: Independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and paired t-tests were conducted with a total of 888 subjects (530 dental hygienists and 358 dentists) using SPSS Statistics 22.0. Results: The analysis showed that, dental hygienists had higher recognition of the efficiency of their work (p<0.001) than dentists, with respect to all items(p>0.05). With respect to subjective agreement, dental hygienists estimated lower recognition among dentists than other dental hygienists and dentists estimated higher recognition among dentists than dental hygienists. With respect to accuracy, dentists' estimation was lower than the actual recognition among dental hygienists and dental hygienists' estimation was higher than the actual recognition among dentists in all cases except the efficiency of dental hygienists' patient education work and constant learning. Conclusions: There was wide gap between dental hygienists and dentists in recognition of the efficiency of dental hygienists' non-surgical periodontal therapy work. Actions must be taken to raise mutual understanding between dental hygienists and dentists regarding dental hygienists' non-surgical periodontal therapy work, to spread this recognition throughout the dental industry, and to implement systematic support at dental clinics.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.217-227
• /
• 2022

This study aimed to investigate parents' and dentists' perceptions of the national oral health screening for infants and children (OHS), and evaluate the dentists' accuracy of analyzing the results of OHS. A questionnaire survey was conducted, face-to-face or online, for 90 parents of children who received OHS in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Yonsei University Dental Hospital and 100 dentists working at local clinic or university dental hospital from May to October 2021. Most parents and dentists were aware of the importance of OHS, and approximately 96.7% of parents were satisfied with OHS. The requirements of parents and dentists about OHS were different. The reasons for having difficulties in explaining parents after OHS and the opinions on appropriate period and number of OHS were disagreed between pediatric dentists and general dentists. Regardless of dentists' major, work experience, elapsed period after taking online education program, the accuracy of the examination result was low. In this study, various opinions of parents and dentists on OHS were collected. Efforts should be made to enhance the oral health of infants and children by considering the requirements of parents and dentists and improving the accuracy of examination results.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.240-251
• /
• 2015

Background: Dentist's income is quite variable. We investigate the factors underlying the distribution of dental revenue and dentist income. Methods: Financial and structural variables of private dental practices(N=13,967) were examined with 2010 Economic Census microdata which include non-insurance revenue. We conducted quantile regression method(QRM) and ordinary least square(OLS) in treating skewness and heteroskedasticity of distributions. The effective estimation for the upper and lower range of distribution becomes possible by QRM. Results: Mid-career dentists are shown to have higher revenue and income. Male dentists achieve the higher revenue and income than female dentists in all quantiles. Group practices show lower income per owner than solo practices significantly. The revenue and income are increased with increasing size of clinics. The high cost in renting the clinic office is found to have a big positive effect on the revenue but a little positive effect on the income. Interestingly the density of dentists shows negative effect on the lowest quantile of the revenue but positive effect on the highest quantile. The lowest quantile of the revenue in the capital areas have the relatively high revenue. The lowest quantile of the income in metropolitan city show higher income than those in other areas significantly. Conclusion: The suggested QRM is shown to have more effective and efficient tool in finding out determinants of dentists' revenue and income of our concern. The results of this study are expected to be employed for dentists preparing for the opening practices in their organizational settings and locational selections. The distributional efficiency of dental human resources could be accomplished if policy makers guide dentists with this knowledge.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study was to clarify the barriers of dental treatment for special needs patients felt by dentists and to determine the dentist-related factors contributing to the obstacles in treatment planning and decision making. Questionnaires were distributed and responded by dentists working at five public-based special care clinics in South Korea. Factors divided into three parts (dentist demographics, clinical factors, and educational and administrational factors) were assessed and analyzed for correlations between dentist-related factors and dentist-felt burdens for special care treatment. Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test were used at the level of 0.05. A total of 34 dentists responded to the questionnaires. Almost all dentists had obstacles in the treatment of special needs patients in terms of the patients' lack of cooperation (94.1%), proxy communication with caregivers (94.1%), payment reward system (63.6%), deficient workforce (67.7%), and others. The longer dentists had been practicing for special needs patients, the more they were dissatisfied with the reward system and a longer time was spent for communication with patients and their caregivers (p<0.05). For specialists, more obstacles were experienced in treatment planning due to a deficiency in the clinical information obtained from their patients compared to general practitioners (p<0.05). A total of 82.4% of the respondents approved of mandatory educational programs for special care dentists. There were practitioner-based factors related to the amount of obstacles felt by special care dentists. To overcome the treatment barrier of special needs patients, in-depth education and training are required in special care dentistry.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.481-496
• /
• 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare factors causing stress in pediatric and general dentists when treating pediatric patients and to evaluate their overall occupational stress level. A total of 191 dentists participated in the online survey, consisting of 66 pediatric dentists and 125 general dentists. The questionnaire was conducted using Google Form. Both groups were stressed due to poor cooperation of patient and caregiver, uncertain prognosis of treatment, and low cost of pediatric dental treatment. The pediatric dentists felt relatively high stress due to poor cooperation from caregivers and an uncertain prognosis of treatment (p < 0.05). Overall occupational stress was high in both groups in the order of patient, time, job environment, and income-related stress, and the degrees of pediatric dentists were lower than general dentists. Among the 3 sub-factors of occupational burnout, more than 98% of both groups showed burnout in "depersonalization", and more than 69% of both groups showed burnout in "emotional exhaustion". Both groups showed a low burnout rate in "reduced sense of accomplishment" and pediatric dentists showed a higher sense of accomplishment than general dentists (p < 0.05). This study showed that both groups were under high occupational stress due to various factors, and efforts were required to relieve stress.