We tried to evaluate frequencies and severities of malocclusion of various socioeconomic areas according to growth and development. To obtain objective validity, we used Handicapping Labiolingual Deviation (HLD) suggested by Draker, Treatment Priority Index (TPI) by Grainger, Handicapped Malocclusion Assessing Record (HMAR) by American Dental Association and American Association of Orthodontist. Seoul and Kwangju were selected as an urban group, Ahnyang as an middle socioeconomic group and Hwasun near the Kwangju area as an rural group. 140 (male 63, female 73) of 5th grade in 'E' elementary school students in Seoul, 202 (male 101, female 101) of 'S' elementary school students in Kwangju, 207(male 105, female 102) of 'H' elementary school students in Hwasun, and 100(male 49, female 51) of 'M' elementary school students of in Ahnyang of all the same grade were analyzed and we obtained the results as follows; 1. TPI, HLD, and HMAR showed high coincidence and reproducibility between different observer. (p<0.01) 2. In comparison of TPI, HLD, and HMAR according to clinical decision, there was statistically difference between each other. (p<0.01) 3. As the severity of malocclusion increases there was high correlation between TPI and HLD, and between HLD and HMAR (p<0.05) 4. With respect to differences between areas in TPI and HLD, there was statistically difference between Ahnyang and other areas. 5. In Seoul as an urban group there was a high incidence of periodic checkup and history of orthodontic treatment than other area. 6. Mode of feeding and posture during sleeping did not affect the severity of malocclusion. As a conclusion, TPI, HLD and HMAR are so reproducible and coincident that they can be used as a guide on evaluating the frequency and severity of malocclusion and determining the priority of orthodontic treatment to determine the need and supply of orthodontic treatment. Furthermore these indices can provide objectively valid data for establishing public health problem solution.
American Dental Association ; Disabled Persons ; Female ; Growth and Development ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malocclusion* ; Posture ; Public Health ; Seoul

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Antibiotic prophylaxis of infective endocarditis is required before high-risk procedures in patient with high-risk heart diseases. Although guidelines for the prevention of infective endocarditis were proposed by the American Heart Association in 1997, compliance to these recommendations has not been evaluated in Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicentered study in 8 Korean university hospitals. Patients with high-risk heart diseases, having undergone invasive dental procedures between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 31, 2003, were enrolled. The medical and dental records of the patients were reviewed to evaluate whether the prophylaxis had been appropriate. RESULTS: Of the initial 4,912 patients, 184 that had been treated with invasive dental procedures (255 total episodes, mean 1.4/patient) were evaluated. The most common high-risk heart disease was a prosthetic heart valve (233 procedures), followed by a previous history of infective endocarditis (22 procedures), cyanotic heart diseases (5 procedures) and systemic pulmonic venous shunts (2 procedures). Antibiotic prophylaxis was performed in 231 procedures (90.8%). Amoxicillin was the most common antibiotic used for prophylaxis (88.6%); however, the adequate dosage (2 gm) was administered in only 56% of these cases. Therefore, the appropriate prophylaxis, according to the AHA recommendations, was performed in only 14.1% (36 procedures). The mean duration of prophylaxis and number of antibiotic doses were 2.40 days (2.40+/-2.44) and 7.97 doses (7.97+/-7.18), respectively. A previous history of infective endocarditis (p=0.03) and dental extraction (p<0.01) resulted in a longer duration of prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Only 14.1% of the high risk group procedures were given appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis according to the AHA recommendations. These data suggest that protocol-based education of both doctors and patients is required for appropriate antimicrobial therapy during high-risk procedures for the prevention of infective endocarditis in patients with high-risk heart disease.
American Heart Association ; Amoxicillin ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Compliance ; Dental Records ; Education ; Endocarditis* ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Valves ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection of the endothelial surface of the heart and heart valves with serious, even fatal, complications and that often requires long-term and expensive treatment. Dental procedures may lead to IE in high-risk patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the knowledge of general dentists and dental students concerning the prevention of IE in Hamadan, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, the awareness of general dentists and dentistry students concerning the prevention of IE was evaluated during 2010. A questionnaire was prepared and administered to 58 final-year dental students and 96 general dental practitioners in Hamadan. A total of 154 persons completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of some demographic questions and questions about awareness of IE in three sections. The gathered data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test, and independent t-tests. The gathered data showed that dentistry students answered the questions about awareness of the prevention of IE more correctly than did general dentists. The overall knowledge of endocarditis prophylaxis among students and dentists was about 65% and 56%, respectively. The students' knowledge was better because 94.9% of the students had desired (acceptable) and relatively desired knowledge; this result for dentists, however, was 82.3%. In our study, the overall awareness level of the study population was moderate. Dentist and students believed that patients with prosthetic valves and previous IE were the most common cardiac disease cases that required prophylaxis. The most common prophylactic regimen was in accordance with the guidelines of the American Heart Association and was a single dose of 2 g amoxicillin 1 hour before treatment. The results indicated that gender had no effect on the level of knowledge; however, there was a statistically significant relationship between age and level of knowledge.
American Heart Association ; Amoxicillin ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dentistry ; Dentists ; Endocarditis ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Valves ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Iran ; Students, Dental ; Surveys and Questionnaires