• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 2004

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral health care programs in 3 school-based oral health care center among primary schoolchildren. Methods: School-based oral health care programs included fluoride mouth rinsing, pit and fissure sealing for permanent premolars and molars, fluoride gel application and chewing of xylitol candy. All of the programs were carried out by one dental hygienist among 'D' primary schoolchildren in Daegu city under the supervision of a dentist. Baseline dental examinations were completed and preventive care was implemented for 544 children during one year. All of the children visited a school-based oral health care center every three months for a regular check-up. The final oral examination was conducted from March 15 to April 1, 2004. The data analysis data was made on the basis of SAS 8.01. Mean differences between 2003 and 2004 data were compared by paired t-test. Corresponding p-values were considered significant at values less than 0.05. Results: The DMF rate and DFT index were reduced to 8.0% and 8.4% during one year respectively, but there were no statistically significant differences. The DMF rate was significantly reduced (16.3%) after a one year program of school-based oral health care practice. The DMFT(Decay Missing Filling Tooth) index was also reduced compared to 2003 throughout the entire grade. Conclusion: School-based oral health care programs can reduce the prevalence of dental caries prevalence among schoolchildren during one year. This program also improved the oral health capacity of schoolchildren. It is recommend that the school-based oral health care program should be extended to every primary school in Korea.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.455-467
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• 2006

Demand for appropriate health care has gradually increased in Korea. In addition, developments of community- and school-based oral health programs have also focused oral health care for the oral health promotion. Especially, school-based oral health programs are the underpinnings of promoting oral health and preventing oral diseases among schoolchildren. School-based oral health programs have had three major components: oral health education, oral health services, and a healthful environments. These included oral health education(one-to-one communication, group communication, and use of mass communication), oral examination, fluoride mouthrinsing, pit-and-fissure sealants, fluoride gel application, mechanical plaque control, and chewing xylitol candy. In this study, we evaluate the effects of oral health programs among primary schoolchildren by comparing the oral health knowledge, oral health behaviors, and perception of caries prevention procedures. Data for this study were obtained from 699 primary schoolchildren at the two primary school in Daegu, Korea. One is experimental group, N primary school, that was established school-based oral health center under supervision of Nam-gu Public Health Center, the other is control group, N' primary school, that was yet to establish school-based oral health center. We surveyed children's oral health knowledge and behaviors, and perception of caries prevention procedures using self-administrated questionnaire and then analyzed differences of each item among two groups. The brief findings of this study were summarized as follows. There are several advantage to a comprehensive school-based oral health program. (1) School-based oral health programs facilitate and increase the effectiveness of teaching oral health subjects. (2) Schoolchildren are available for prevention or treatment procedure. (3) School-based oral health center may be less threating than private dental clinic. (4) With comprehensive school-based oral health programs the decayed, missing, and filled teeth(DMFT) of schoolchildren should demonstrate a substantial and steady decrease over time(Choi et al, 2004). In conclusion, treatment is not the answer to solving children's oral health programs; rather primary prevention is the key. Many countries and communities are focusing on hoe millions of underprivileged children can be provided with health care. Schoolchildren gain the knowledge and behaviors to attain and maintain good oral health in schools. For these reasons, the role of school-based oral health center is not only important but also a necessity.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.154-168
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• 2023

Background: Legal regulations and fees have been established in Korea to provide visiting oral health care services to individuals with long-term care insurance (LTCI). However, beneficiaries of this service are very limited. Therefore, to improve the Korean system we propose a comparative analysis with the Japanese system. Methods: This study is a descriptive analysis based on secondary data, such as statistics, laws, and service record forms from Korea and Japan. The most recent institutional documents were obtained through a Google search. The variables investigated were financial resources of LTCI, co-payment structure, monthly limit of LTCI benefits, care levels of LTCI, service providers, service costs, contents of service, and the number of cases of service. Results: In both Korea and Japan, LTCI is financed through a combination of taxes and insurance premiums. However, the monthly limit for receiving LTCI services in Japan is about 2.4 times higher than in Korea. Visiting medical and dental treatment is also possible in Japan. Furthermore, nursing staff can provide daily oral health care services according to dental hygienists' instruction unlike Korea. Oral health care services in Korea are focused on oral hygiene and prevention of oral diseases, while Japan additionally provides oral function screening, patient education for oral health management, and training for nursing staff to enhance oral function, eating, and swallowing of the patients. Conclusion: We concluded that the possibility of visiting dental treatment, differences in monthly limit of LTCI benefits, oral function assessment and guidance, as well as collaboration with other healthcare professionals contributed to the difference in the frequency of utilization of visiting oral health care services between Korea and Japan.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 2020

Background: Dental treatment has shifted to the center of the community, and the public policy of the country has expanded to support the vulnerable classes such as the disabled. The dental profession needs education regarding oral health services for persons with disabilities, and it is necessary to derive the competencies for this. Therefore, we conducted this study to derive the normative ability to understand the role of a dental hygienist in the oral health service for persons with disabilities and improvement plans for education. Methods: We conducted a qualitative analysis for deriving competencies by analyzing the data collected through in-depth interviews with experts in order to obtain abilities through practical experience. Based on the competency criterion, relevant competency in the interview response was derived using the priori method, and it was confirmed whether the derived ability matched the ability determined by the respondent. Results: The professional conduct competencies of dental hygienists, devised by the Korean Association of Dental Hygiene, consists of professional behavior, ethical decision-making, self-assessment skills, lifelong learning, and accumulated evidence. Also, core competencies of the American Dental Education Association competencies for dental hygienist classification such as ethics, responsibility for professional actions, and critical thinking skills were used as the criterion. The dental hygienist's abilities needed for oral health care for people with disabilities, especially in the detailed abilities to fulfill these social needs, were clarified. Conclusion: To activate oral health care for people with disabilities, it is necessary for dental hygienists to fulfill their appropriate roles, and for this purpose, competency-based curriculum restructuring is indispensable. A social safety net for improving the oral health of people with disabilities can be secured by improving the required skills-based education system of dental hygienists and strengthening the related infrastructure.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2019

Background: Dementia is a condition in which a person who has been living a normal life suffers from various cognitive impairments in memory, words, and judgment that considerably disrupt daily life. The oral care ability and subjective oral status of elderly individuals with dementia are lower than those of a healthy person. The oral health care of individuals admitted to nursing homes inevitably falls to nursing assistants and nursing care staff. This study aimed to investigate the need for oral health management items of and to provide basic direction for the future of the Dementia National Responsibility System. Methods: Elders aged 65 years and over were selected from a comprehensive welfare center. A total of 155 questionnaires were analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of 15 items about general status, 9 items about recognition of the Dementia National Responsibility System, 5 items of the subjective recognition of oral health, and 6 items of the correlation between oral health and dementia. Results: Among our subjects, 71.0% answered that they did not know about the Dementia National Responsibility System, 78.7% answered that they think they need the system, and 81.9% think that they should add dental health items to the Dementia National Responsibility System. The response to the need for dementia national responsibility, oral health items in the Dementia National Responsibility System, and oral specialists all showed scores of >4 points. The need for the Dementia National Responsibility System, oral health items, and specialists were found. Conclusion: It is necessary to include oral health care items in the Dementia National Responsibility System so that elderly individuals with dementia can receive the needed oral health care.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2013

I participated in Academic Exchange Program(Action plan II) between KADH(Korean Association for Disability and Oral Health) and JSDH(Japanses Society for Disability and Oral Health) for 2 months from 3rd July 2012 to 2nd september 2012 in the Department of Hygiene and Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Showa University at Tokyo, Japan. I have observed their operation process and learned what dysphagia is and how it is consulted and taken care of as a therapy for patients with eating and swallowing disorders for two months in The department of special needs dentistry at Showa University Dental Hospital, Jonan Branch of Tokyo Metropolitan Kita Medical Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled, Smile Nakano Center, Tokyo metropolitan center for persons with disabilities in Lidabashi for one week, Eating and swallowing functional therapy workshop for disabled children, Tokyo metropolitan Tobu medical center for Persons with Developmental/Multiple Disabilities located in Minamisunamitchi for one week and on The 17-18th JSDR(Japanese Society of Dysphagia rehabilitation) in Sapporo. Through Action Plan II program, I learned how precious eating, drinking and swallowing with ease are and observed how they do and what they do as a dentist or a dental hygienist in Japan for dysphagia patients. Therefore, I want to present the dental approaches of children with dysphagia in Japan, based on my experience for two months.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2018

This study proposed a registered dentist model for the disabled based on consumer in-depth interview and supplier survey. This study proposed that dental clinics in the community take role as registered dentists for the disabled. Qualification screening and facility prerequisites are required to be selected as the registered dentists for the disabled and patients of the registered dentists were restricted to the disabled who can cooperate to dental treatment services with or without the aid of physical bondage. In order to encourage the participation in the program, subsidies for the registered dentists were necessary. Also, this study proposed financial supports for the medical expenses for patients at the same level as the current dental care center for the disabled. The registered dentist program for the disabled meets the needs of disabled consumers, such as accessibility of medical institutions, expertise of medical staff, and ongoing treatments with familiar medical staff. The registered dentist program for the disabled is expected to provide prevention and ongoing management for oral health promotion of disabled people and it also contribute to lower economic burden of oral health care of the disabled.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.281-290
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• 2020

Objectives: Stress is the cause of several illnesses, in older people, stress may also cause various social problems. The oral health of older adults is closely related to the quality of life, and chewing ability is particularly important for their general health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress, the number of teeth remaining, and the chewing ability, which reflects the oral health status among older adults. Methods: This study evaluated the stress level and chewing ability of adults older than 65 years using the 6th (2014-2015) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination data. The total number of remaining teeth was determined based on the data of the teeth conditions. Results: There was an association between stress and chewing ability among older adults. The odds ratio of chewing function increased by 2.67 times (crude OR=2.67; 95% CI=1.88-3.79) with increased stress. After adjusting, the odds ratio increased to 2.74 times (adjusted OR=2.74; 95% CI=1.88-3.98). Conclusions: Reducing stress may facilitate effective oral health management and improve the overall quality of life in older adults. The findings of this study may help in the discovery of various approaches s to reducing stress in older adults and provide relevant information for oral health education.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2009

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the needs for hospital-based home care nursing medical services in elder care institutions by analyzing the details and frequency of medical services provided by, and the needs for, hospital based home care nursing in select institutions in Korea. Methods: Seventy-seven staffs at elderly care institutions located throughout the country completed self-report questionnaires between February 1 and May 31, 2009. SPSS ver. 14.0 was used for data analysis regarding frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation. Results: Forty-eight hospital-based home care nursing medical services in eight domains were identified as being needed in elderly care institutions. The most commonly used medical services were providing instruction in oral drug administration, checking drug beneficial/adverse effects, and administering blood glucose test, while the most needed medical services requiring hospital based home care nursing were complex pressure ulcer care, followed by diabetic foot ulcer management and nutrient injection. Conclusion: The present results should provide fundamental data for better healthcare services with hospital based home care nursing at elderly care institutions as part of a 'win-win' strategy through which medical expenses are reduced, insurance costs are kept stable, and safe and high-quality medical services are provided for residents of elder care institutions. Political decisions intended to promote visits by hospital based home care nurses to elder care institutions would be a prudent course.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.333-336
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• 2021

Rhinoliths are foreign bodies composed of mineralised deposits in the nasal cavity that are rarely encountered in routine dental practice. The current report presents a case of a 77-year-old female patient who visited a dental treatment centre for a routine dental check-up and prophylaxis. On the clinical examination, the patient did not report any breathing difficulty, nasal obstruction, or any form of discharge. Panoramic radiography showed a horizontally magnified radiopaque structure in the right nasal fossa region. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) revealed a hyperdense entity with a laminated presentation in the right nasal fossa. The hyperdense entity was diagnosed as a rhinolith based on the radiographic findings. Although the patient was asymptomatic, a referral was made to an ear, nose, and throat surgeon for a further evaluation. This report highlights the importance of CBCT imaging in the diagnosis of soft-tissue calcifications.