• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.136-144
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the differences in factors related to the incidence of dental caries between children in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas and compared the DMFT and DMFS scores to confirm the effect of water fluoridation program (WFP) in Geoje and Changwon. Methods: The oral health examination and questionnaire survey were conducted in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. The number of surveyed children aged 8, 10, and 12 years in the fluoridated and non-fluoridated area of two cities was 1,524 and 1,383, respectively. Self-recorded questionnaires included self-perception of their own dental health, daily toothbrushing frequency, intake frequency of cariogenic sweet snacks and beverages, experience of gingival bleeding, experience of unmet dental treatment, and use of oral hygiene device except for toothbrush and toothpaste. The prevalence of caries and fissure-sealant status were surveyed. The logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the difference in children's self-rated oral health status between the fluoridated and non-fluoridated area. The mean number of sealed teeth and surfaces, marginal means of the DMFT and DMFS scores adjusted for the difference in the samples' sex distribution, and region were compared between the fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. Results: In the fluoridated area, the experience rate of unmet dental treatments was higher among children aged 10 years, intake frequency of cariogenic sweet snacks and beverages were higher among the whole sample, and experience rate of professional fluoride application were lower than in the non-fluoridated area. The DMFT score for permanent dentition adjusted for differences in sex, region, and mean number of fissure-sealed teeth in the fluoridated area was significantly lower among whole samples and 8-, 10-, and 12-year-olds alone than in the non-fluoridated area. Conclusions: WFP can alleviate oral health inequality because it is effective in reducing the incidence of caries among children is disadvantaged demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.631-641
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to confirm the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and the prevalence of periodontal disease, with a focus on employment status, in a representative sample of Korean adults aged 19-39 years. Methods: Data were obtained from 3,178 adults who completed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, health-related questionnaires, and an oral examination. Socioeconomic, demographic, and oral health-related behavior data were adopted as independent variables. The chi-square test was used to assess differences in the distribution of socioeconomic status, oral health behavior, and nutrition factors according to employment status. Logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the relationships between the prevalence of periodontitis and the related variables. Results: Significant differences in sex, educational level, income, marital status, smoking status, prevalence of periodontitis, number of dental check-ups in a year, and unmet dental care were confirmed according to employment status. The prevalence of periodontal disease was not significantly related to employment status. Conclusions: These results suggest a significant difference in periodontal disease according to socioeconomic factors in Korean adults. However, the prevalence of periodontal disease was not related to employment status. To prevent the progression of periodontal disease, attention should be paid to oral health, time available for dental treatment, smoking cessation, and use of floss.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.325-332
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the oral health status of elderly under visiting health care and their oral health-related quality of life. The subjects were 300 elderly under visiting health care program over 65 years old in Asan city and they were interviewed. The result showed that average Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) score was 37.36 and the lowest scored question was 'never satisfied with the oral condition'. In GOHAI related to oral health behaviors, unmet dental treatment experience was statistically significant (p<0.001). In overall GOHAI, number of remaining teeth (p<0.001) and the age had statistical significance and men had higher score in pain and discomfort (p<0.05), under age of 74 limited function factors score was high (p<0.01). The number of remaining teeth had statistical significances in most factors except pain and discomfort (p<0.001). The factors affecting GOHAI were age (p<0.05), number of remaining teeth (p<0.001) and perceived health state (p<0.001). In order to improve oral health-related quality of life of elderly receiving visiting oral health care services, it is necessary to increase denture support by securing budgets and developing oral health promotion programs at the local government level.