OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the number of existing permanent teeth is associated with health-related quality of life by using EuroQol-5 Dimension (EuroQol-5D) in a representative sample of Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 5349 subjects who participated in the 2012 fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were examined. The dependent variable was EQ-5D index and independent variable was the number of existing permanent teeth. The health-related quality of life was assessed by using EQ-5D index. The number of existing permanent teeth was evaluated by dentists using World Health Organization Index. Demographic factors (age and gender), socioeconomic status (education, income), oral health behaviors (frequency of daily toothbrushing, and regular dental visit), health behaviors (cigarette smoking, drinking, regular physical activity), general health status (depression, stress, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus) were included as confounder in analysis. Multivariable linear regression model, stratified analysis and analysis of covariance were applied. RESULTS: After adjustment for various confounders, the number of existing permanent teeth was positively associated with EQ-5D index (P<0.001). This association was highlighted among 40-59 year-old males and over 60 year-old females. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the number of existing permanent teeth was independently associated with EQ-5D index. Our results provided the substantially important evidence on the health and oral health promotion for Korean adults.
Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Demography ; Dentists ; Drinking ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Linear Models ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Oral Health ; Quality of Life* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class ; Tooth* ; Toothbrushing ; World Health Organization

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to uncover the mediating effects of test anxiety on the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and academic burnout in enrolled in a dental hygiene department. METHODS: This study administered a survey consisting of the Socially Prescribed Perfectionism Scale, the Revised Test Anxiety Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey to 310 female college students in the dental hygiene department at G City. The data were analyzed with correlation analysis using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 20.0. partial mediating effects of test anxiety between socially prescribed perfectionism and academic burnout. RESULTS: The results suggest that the higher the levels of socially prescribed perfectionism, the greater the increase in academic burnout. In addition, socially prescribed perfectionism increases test anxiety when academic burnout is high. The analysis of mediating effects in the indirect path of the model revealed that adaptive socially prescribed perfectionism had a negative effect on academic burnout by increasing test anxiety. These findings and their implications were discussed. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce socially imposed perfectionism, it is necessary to reduce growing academic burnout, and test the value and success criteria of this model. There remains however, the fact that there is a need to focus on career goals and criteria that need to be met in order to be successful. By lowering test anxiety, psychological stability is improved and in turn, a stable college life enables dental hygiene students to more freely access psychological support. Therefore, a proactive attitude toward education is vital in preventing test anxiety and socially prescribed perfectionism.
Anxiety* ; Education ; Female* ; Humans ; Negotiating* ; Oral Hygiene* ; Test Anxiety Scale

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of smoking on utilization of and expenses in ambulatory dental care. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 5,751 men aged over 20 years selected from the Korea Health Panel data collected during 2010-2012. Pack-years of smoking were calculated based on the survey data. Dental utilization was defined as dental outpatient clinic use least once in three years. The expenses in ambulatory dental care were summed to determine total dental health care spending for three years. To detect the effect of smoking, we used multiple logistic regression analysis for dental utilization and multiple linear regression for expenses in ambulatory dental care after changing log. RESULTS: The pack-years had a significant effect on dental utilization and expenses in participants aged 40-59 years. After controlling for income level, bedtime brushing, and the presence of chronic disease, dental care utilization rates in the over 10 to less than 25 pack-year and the over 25 pack-year groups were about 1.4 (OR=1.37, (P =0.007)) and 1.6 times (OR=1.59, (P =0.001)) those in the 0 pack-year group. In comparison with the 0 pack-year group, the over 10 to less than 25 pack-year group spent 50,000 won more over dental expenses, while the corresponding number for the over 25 pack-year group was about 100,000 won. Thus, the ambulatory dental care expenses increased with the packyears of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking significantly influenced the utilization and expense in ambulatory dental care in men aged 40-59 years.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Care* ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to identify the socioeconomic factors, health behavior factors and dietary patterns that have an influence on the periodontal disease in adults. METHODS: This study used data collected from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES V-1). The final sample included 2,386 subjects who were 30-59 years old and who had completed the necessary health examinations, the health behaviors survey and nutrition survey. RESULTS: Eleven dietary patterns emerged from the factor analysis with different factor loading. After controlling for potential confounders, multiple logistic regression analysis of the dietary patterns showed that 'legumes/mixed grains' and 'instant foods' affected the periodontal disease. Lower consumption of 'legumes/mixed grains' and higher consumption of 'instant foods' were significantly associated only with an increased risk of periodontal disease. CONCLUSIONS: In the light of the results of this study, it appears pretty likely that the risk of developing periodontal disease can be reduced by changing a person's dietary patterns.
Adult* ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Socioeconomic Factors

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the erosive potential of several carbonated waters and to confirm the availability of a simple ISO protocol for screening the erosive potential of drinks. METHODS: A total of six carbonated waters were tested. Three products (Lemon-Sparkling water, Seagram, and Trevi) were domestic, and the other three (Perrier, San Pellegrino, and Rosbacher) were imported. Two kinds of carbonated drinks (Coca-Cola and Sprite) were used as controls. The erosive potential of each drink was assessed by measuring the initial pH (pH(I)), the final pH after degassing of carbon dioxide (pH(F)), and the titratable acidity to pH 5.5 (TA(5.5)) and 7.0 (TA(7.0)). The pH changes (DeltapH) caused by the addition of drinks to screening solutions were calculated according to the ISO protocol for evaluating the erosive potential of oral rinses. RESULTS: The overall erosive potential of the carbonated waters was lower than that of the control drinks. The pHI and pH(F) of the carbonated waters ranged from 3.94 to 5.84 and from 5.07 to 7.88, respectively. The Lemon-Sparkling water showed the highest erosive potential among the carbonated waters, having the lowest pH (3.94) and the highest TA(5.5) (1.67 ml). The DeltapH of all tested drinks ranged from -1.00 to 0.23. Also, the tendency of erosive potential measured by DeltapH was similar to that measured by TA(5.5). CONCLUSIONS: The carbonated waters tested in this study had a lower erosive potential than did the carbonated drinks. However, the erosive potential of domestic products was higher than that of imported products. The results of the ISO screening test could reflect the influence of the acid content as well as the pH of drinks. Therefore, this protocol could also be conveniently applied to evaluate the erosive potential of various drinks.
Carbon Dioxide ; Carbon* ; Carbonated Beverages ; Carbonated Water* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mass Screening ; Proton-Motive Force ; Tooth Erosion ; Water

OBJECTIVES: This clinical study aimed to investigate if dentifrices containing policresulen would help to control dental plaque and gingivitis. METHODS: Seventy-eight eligible adults participated in this double-blind and randomized clinical study after an initial oral examination, calculus removal, and tooth prophylaxis. Two weeks after the procedure, the participants were assigned to three groups using the following dentifrices: (1) a dentifrice containing 0.22% NaF (control group); (2) a dentifrice containing 0.22% NaF and 100 ppm policresulen (policresulen group); and (3) a dentifrice containing 0.22% NaF, 100 ppm policresulen, and 1.00% bamboo salt (policresulen/bamboo group). The participants used only the provided dentifrice (for 1 min, twice a day, over 8 weeks) when brushing their teeth and followed their normal brushing habits. Dental plaque accumulation and gingivitis measurements were conducted using the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein plaque index (PI), the Loe and Silness gingival index (GI), and the percent bleeding on probing (%BOP) to obtain baseline data and 4- and 8-week data after grouping. RESULTS: A total of 73 participants aged 35.92+/-11.46 years (mean+/-SD) completed the study. The results after 8 weeks demonstrated statistically significant group-by-time interactions for PI, GI, and %BOP (P<0.001). The PI observed in the control groups increased over time up to 6%, while that observed in the dentifrice groups containing policresulen decreased by 5% (P<0.001). For GI and %BOP, the control group exhibited significantly higher values after 8 weeks, while the policresulen and the policresulen/bamboo groups revealed similar index values as the baseline after 4 and 8 weeks. The changes in all indices were significantly different between the control and the two experimental groups. There were no significant differences in the results obtained from the policresulen/bamboo group and the results obtained from the policresulen group. CONCLUSIONS: Use of dentifrices containing policresulen over 8 weeks demonstrated anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis efficacy compared to a control dentifrice.
Adult ; Calculi ; Dental Plaque Index ; Dental Plaque* ; Dentifrices* ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Gingival Hemorrhage ; Gingivitis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Periodontal Index ; Tooth

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate applicability of the Qraycam device for detecting caries and filling body during tooth examinations. METHODS: Fifty-two subjects aged 25 to 34 years were recruited for tooth examination. Two examiners (an epidemiologic expert and a non-expert) performed visual tooth examination using only dental operating light, dental mirror, and air-drying without a dental explorer. Pictures or videos of every tooth surface were obtained under visual ray and 405 nm blue ray, respectively, by using Qraycam. The two examiners then evaluated these videos or images more than 7 days after visual examination. RESULTS: The results of the visual, visible ray image, and 405 nm blue ray image examinations showed very good kappa agreement with the gold standard for both examiners. The 405 nm blue ray image examination showed higher kappa agreement than visible ray image examination, and was similar to visual examination. Accuracy of detecting caries was enhanced by using 405 nm blue ray images from Qraycam. Accuracy of detecting filling body on 405 nm blue ray image examination was almost same as that by visual examination. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth examination with Qraycam images revealed high agreement with the gold standard and showed accuracy for detecting caries and filling body. Therefore, Qraycam would enhance the quality of oral epidemiologic survey including tooth examination and save cost and time of survey.
ROC Curve ; Tooth*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the patterns of dental caries experience on the tooth surface of Korean adolescents of the ages of 12 and 15 years. METHODS: The raw data from the 2012 Korean National Oral Health Survey were reviewed, and the records of a total of 10,542 adolescents were analyzed in this study. The surfaces of the 28 permanent teeth were categorized into the occlusal, smooth, and proximal surface types. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multidimensional scaling analysis, and cluster analysis were performed to analyze the data. RESULTS: The analysis of the relationship of the dental caries experience on the tooth surfaces between the oral quadrants revealed that the correlation between the surface relationship of the left and right teeth was higher than that between the upper and lower teeth, in all of the quadrants. As a result of multidimensional scling analysis, the adolescents aged 12 were classified into six clusters: occlusal surface of mandibular first molars, occlusal surface of maxillary first molars, smooth surface of maxillary first molars, smooth surface of mandibular first molars, occlusal surface of mandibular second molars and the rest of tooth surface. Similarly, the dental surfaces of the 15-year-old adolescents were classified into seven clusters: occlusal surface of the mandibular first molars, occlusal surface of the maxillary first molars, smooth surface of the first molars, occlusal surface of the mandibular second molars, occlusal surface of the maxillary second molars, smooth surface of the mandibular second molars, and the surfaces of the. The patterns of caries experience are usually clustered on the same types of tooth surfaces; for example, patterns on an occlusal surface clustered with those on another occlusal surface, or patterns on a smooth surface with those on another smooth surface. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about the caries patterns on the tooth surfaces might be useful for the prevention and management of dental caries.
Adolescent* ; Cluster Analysis ; Dental Caries* ; Dentition, Permanent ; Humans ; Molar ; Oral Health ; Tooth*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to (1) survey cases of maxillofacial trauma in adolescents and (2) analyze the relationship between maxillofacial trauma and activity restriction. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 881 participants selected using the convenience sampling method in the Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do regions. Individual self-reporting questionnaire surveys were performed. RESULTS: It was found that 17.2% of adolescents experienced maxillofacial traumas, and 45.3% of them reported activity restrictions caused by the the traumas. The occurrence ratio of maxillofacial trauma was higher in male students (20.6%) than in female students (14.0%). Among the activity restrictions caused by maxillofacial traumas, chewing disturbance was the most frequent activity restriction type, showing an incidence of 54.6%, and taste disturbance was the least frequent, showing an incidence of 9.3%. All the activity restrictions in adolescents were found to have relationships with maxillofacial trauma occurring within the recent one year. Among the activity restrictions, chewing disturbance was most closely related with the trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Since maxillofacial traumas cause activity restrictions in adolescents, it is necessary to prepare policies for the prevention of maxillofacial trauma. Furthermore, it is necessary to intensify the education regarding treatment methods for maxillofacial trauma.
Adolescent* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeollabuk-do ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Mastication ; Oral Health

OBJECTIVES: Oral health literacy is defined as 'the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic oral health information and services needed to make an appropriate health decision'. This goal of this study was to develop an instrument for assessing oral health literacy in Korean adults. METHODS: This instrument was developed by using the adult literacy evaluation tool of the Korean Government. The components were mainly related to 2 conditions ('oral health information' and 'dental treatment instruction'), and they were classified into 3 cognitive processes (realistic, deductive, and critical domains). Furthermore, all of the subcomponents were divided into prose and non-prose. Therefore, each of the 12 subcomponents had 4 items, resulting in a final questionnaire with 48 items. A pilot survey was conducted in 51 adults, and the quality of the questionnaire was subsequently evaluated. We identified reliability by using Cronbach's alpha, discrimination, and difficulty. Two items from each of the 12 subcomponents were selected as the final items. We set the difference thresholds at over 0.5 and over 0.3 for reliability and discrimination, respectively. Finally, we distributed the difficulty from 35 to 95%. RESULTS: The reliabilities of all items (48) and the final items (24) were 0.838 and 0.836, respectively. The mean discrimination of the final items was higher than that of all items (mean: 0.5 and 0.3, respectively). The difficulty curve of the final items followed a normal distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability and validity demonstrated by the final 24 items indicates that they are appropriate for evaluating oral health literacy in adults.
Adult* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Oral Health* ; Pilot Projects* ; Reproducibility of Results