Background: Dental caries is a prevalent public health problem among adolescents that significantly affects their quality of life. The Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) model provides a structured, risk-based approach for caries prevention and management. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the CAMBRA-students mobile application, integrated with an information and communication technology (ICT) based intervention, in modifying caries risk factors in middle school students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. A total of 131 middle school students aged 13∼14 years participated. The experimental group (n=68) received a risk-based intervention using the CAMBRA-student mobile application for 1 year, while the control group (n=63) received only standard oral health education and underwent pre- and post-tests. Data on caries risk factors; protective factors; disease indicators; and decayed, missing, and filled teeth rates were collected. Paired and independent t-tests were conducted to analyze changes within and between groups. Results: The rate of change in the caries risk classification before and after the intervention differed between the groups. In the control group, 50% of the low-risk participants were at a high-risk after 12 months. In the intervention group, 90% of the low-risk participants shifted to the high-risk category, and those classified as extremely high-risk moved to the high-risk category. When comparing changes in the caries risk assessment before and after the intervention, both groups demonstrated a significant increase in protective factors (p＜0.001). However, disease indicators increased significantly in the control, whereas no significant change was noted in the intervention group. Conclusion This study evaluated the effectiveness of an ICT-based caries management program for middle school students and confirmed changes in protective factors and specific oral health behaviors through personalized interventions. Future studies should investigate the long-term sustainability of such interventions across diverse populations to further establish their effectiveness.

Purpose: To evaluate the compatibility and usability of test results obtained from the IDRA and Keratograph 5M in clinical settings by comparing their performance in patients with dry eye disease. Methods: From December 27 to 30, 2022, a study was conducted on 30 patients diagnosed with dry eye utilizing both the Keratograph 5M and IDRA devices. The parameters compared and analyzed included lipid layer thickness, tear meniscus height, tear film break-up time, and meibography. A paired t-test was used for statistical comparison. The lipid layer thickness in the Keratograph 5M was graded on a scale from 0 to 4 based on thickness. Results: No significant differences were found between the two devices in tear film break-up time, tear meniscus height, and meibography (p = 0.148, 0.072, 0.124, respectively). However, the tear lipid layer thickness measured by IDRA showed a proportional relationship with the grade assigned by the Keratograph 5M (Kendall R = 0.217, p = 0.037; Spearman R = 0.260, p = 0.045). Conclusions The IDRA device offers the advantage of performing multiple dry eye tests; simultaneously, thereby saving time compared to the Keratograph 5M. Both devices can be used compatibly with IDRA particularly advantageous for providing a numerical value for tear lipid layer thickness which enhances the convenience of dry eye diagnosis and treatment.

Background: Dental caries is a prevalent public health problem among adolescents that significantly affects their quality of life. The Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) model provides a structured, risk-based approach for caries prevention and management. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the CAMBRA-students mobile application, integrated with an information and communication technology (ICT) based intervention, in modifying caries risk factors in middle school students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. A total of 131 middle school students aged 13∼14 years participated. The experimental group (n=68) received a risk-based intervention using the CAMBRA-student mobile application for 1 year, while the control group (n=63) received only standard oral health education and underwent pre- and post-tests. Data on caries risk factors; protective factors; disease indicators; and decayed, missing, and filled teeth rates were collected. Paired and independent t-tests were conducted to analyze changes within and between groups. Results: The rate of change in the caries risk classification before and after the intervention differed between the groups. In the control group, 50% of the low-risk participants were at a high-risk after 12 months. In the intervention group, 90% of the low-risk participants shifted to the high-risk category, and those classified as extremely high-risk moved to the high-risk category. When comparing changes in the caries risk assessment before and after the intervention, both groups demonstrated a significant increase in protective factors (p＜0.001). However, disease indicators increased significantly in the control, whereas no significant change was noted in the intervention group. Conclusion This study evaluated the effectiveness of an ICT-based caries management program for middle school students and confirmed changes in protective factors and specific oral health behaviors through personalized interventions. Future studies should investigate the long-term sustainability of such interventions across diverse populations to further establish their effectiveness.

Background: Dental caries is a prevalent public health problem among adolescents that significantly affects their quality of life. The Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) model provides a structured, risk-based approach for caries prevention and management. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the CAMBRA-students mobile application, integrated with an information and communication technology (ICT) based intervention, in modifying caries risk factors in middle school students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. A total of 131 middle school students aged 13∼14 years participated. The experimental group (n=68) received a risk-based intervention using the CAMBRA-student mobile application for 1 year, while the control group (n=63) received only standard oral health education and underwent pre- and post-tests. Data on caries risk factors; protective factors; disease indicators; and decayed, missing, and filled teeth rates were collected. Paired and independent t-tests were conducted to analyze changes within and between groups. Results: The rate of change in the caries risk classification before and after the intervention differed between the groups. In the control group, 50% of the low-risk participants were at a high-risk after 12 months. In the intervention group, 90% of the low-risk participants shifted to the high-risk category, and those classified as extremely high-risk moved to the high-risk category. When comparing changes in the caries risk assessment before and after the intervention, both groups demonstrated a significant increase in protective factors (p＜0.001). However, disease indicators increased significantly in the control, whereas no significant change was noted in the intervention group. Conclusion This study evaluated the effectiveness of an ICT-based caries management program for middle school students and confirmed changes in protective factors and specific oral health behaviors through personalized interventions. Future studies should investigate the long-term sustainability of such interventions across diverse populations to further establish their effectiveness.

Purpose: To evaluate the compatibility and usability of test results obtained from the IDRA and Keratograph 5M in clinical settings by comparing their performance in patients with dry eye disease. Methods: From December 27 to 30, 2022, a study was conducted on 30 patients diagnosed with dry eye utilizing both the Keratograph 5M and IDRA devices. The parameters compared and analyzed included lipid layer thickness, tear meniscus height, tear film break-up time, and meibography. A paired t-test was used for statistical comparison. The lipid layer thickness in the Keratograph 5M was graded on a scale from 0 to 4 based on thickness. Results: No significant differences were found between the two devices in tear film break-up time, tear meniscus height, and meibography (p = 0.148, 0.072, 0.124, respectively). However, the tear lipid layer thickness measured by IDRA showed a proportional relationship with the grade assigned by the Keratograph 5M (Kendall R = 0.217, p = 0.037; Spearman R = 0.260, p = 0.045). Conclusions The IDRA device offers the advantage of performing multiple dry eye tests; simultaneously, thereby saving time compared to the Keratograph 5M. Both devices can be used compatibly with IDRA particularly advantageous for providing a numerical value for tear lipid layer thickness which enhances the convenience of dry eye diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate the compatibility and usability of test results obtained from the IDRA and Keratograph 5M in clinical settings by comparing their performance in patients with dry eye disease. Methods: From December 27 to 30, 2022, a study was conducted on 30 patients diagnosed with dry eye utilizing both the Keratograph 5M and IDRA devices. The parameters compared and analyzed included lipid layer thickness, tear meniscus height, tear film break-up time, and meibography. A paired t-test was used for statistical comparison. The lipid layer thickness in the Keratograph 5M was graded on a scale from 0 to 4 based on thickness. Results: No significant differences were found between the two devices in tear film break-up time, tear meniscus height, and meibography (p = 0.148, 0.072, 0.124, respectively). However, the tear lipid layer thickness measured by IDRA showed a proportional relationship with the grade assigned by the Keratograph 5M (Kendall R = 0.217, p = 0.037; Spearman R = 0.260, p = 0.045). Conclusions The IDRA device offers the advantage of performing multiple dry eye tests; simultaneously, thereby saving time compared to the Keratograph 5M. Both devices can be used compatibly with IDRA particularly advantageous for providing a numerical value for tear lipid layer thickness which enhances the convenience of dry eye diagnosis and treatment.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the erosive potential of powdered vitamin C on the bovine enamel tooth surface. Methods: The experiment included five groups: Lemona, Vitagran, Korea Eundan, Coca-Cola (positive controls), and artificialsaliva (negative controls). The pH and titratable acidity were measured. Bovine enamel specimens were immersed in the experimental solutions for 15 minutes each day for 7 days. The surface microhardness was measured using the Vickers hardness number before immersion and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. The surfaces of the bovine enamel specimens were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The pH of the experimental groups was as follows: Lemona (2.04±0.04) had the lowest pH, followed by Vitagran(2.56±0.01), the positive control group Coca-Cola (2.60±0.03), Korea Eundan (3.14±0.02), and the negative control group artificial saliva (7.06±0.05). Surface microhardness decreased significantly during the immersion period (p＜0.001). The largest surface microhardness reduction value was shown in Lemona (–201.22±20.60), followed by Vitagran (–190.02±14.73), Korea Eundan (–189.27±27.14), Coca-Cola (–99.28±17.21), artificial saliva (–10.99±9.94). According to the SEM findings, the experimental and positive control groups exhibited rough surfaces with micropores, whereas the negative control group exhibited smooth surfaces before specimen immersion. Conclusion Consuming powdered vitamin C at a low pH may degrade the enamel surface. To reduce the erosive effect, it isrecommended to rinse the mouth with water and brush the teeth after an hour.

Objectives: In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, there is a focus on managing diverse medical data to improve healthcare and prevent disease. The challenges include tracking detailed medical records across multiple institutions and the necessity of linking domestic public medical entities for efficient data sharing. This study explores MyHealthWay, a Korean healthcare platform designed to facilitate the integration and transfer of medical data from various sources, examining its development, importance, and legal implications. Methods: To evaluate the management status and utilization of MyHealthWay, we analyzed data types, security, legal issues, domestic versus international issues, and infrastructure. Additionally, we discussed challenges such as resource and infrastructure constraints, regulatory hurdles, and future considerations for data management. Results: The secure sharing of medical information via MyHealthWay can reduce the distance between patients and healthcare facilities, fostering personalized care and self-management of health. However, this approach faces legal challenges, particularly relating to data standardization and access to personal health information. Legal challenges in data standardization and access, particularly for secondary uses such as research, necessitate improved regulations. There is a crucial need for detailed governmental guidelines and clear data ownership standards at institutional levels. Conclusions This report highlights the role of Korea's MyHealthWay, which was launched in 2023, in transforming healthcare through systematic data integration. Challenges include data privacy and legal complexities, and there is a need for data standardization and individual empowerment in health data management within a systematic medical big data framework.

Background: and Purpose The prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) is increasing as populations age, causing immense suffering for patients, families, and communities. Unfortunately, no treatments for this neurodegenerative disease have been established. Predicting AD is therefore becoming more important, because early diagnosis is the best way to prevent its onset and delay its progression. Methods: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between normal cognition and AD, with large variations in its progression. The disease can be effectively managed by accurately predicting the probability of MCI progressing to AD over several years. In this study we used the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset to predict the progression of MCI to AD over a 3-year period from baseline. We developed and compared various recurrent neural network (RNN) models to determine the predictive effectiveness of four neuropsychological (NP) tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data at baseline. Results: The experimental results confirmed that the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite score was the most effective of the four NP tests, and that the prediction performance of the NP tests improved over time. Moreover, the gated recurrent unit model exhibited the best performance among the prediction models, with an average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.916 Conclusions Timely prediction of progression from MCI to AD can be achieved using a series of NP test results and an RNN, both with and without using the baseline MRI data.

Background: Dental hygienists, who play a vital role in promoting oral health, experience burnout due to various factors. This study aimed to identify these factors through a scoping review of the literature on burnout among dental hygienists in Korea to develop prevention and intervention strategies for burnout. Methods: The literature review was conducted following a scoping review protocol, which included five stages: identifying the literature question, identifying relevant studies, study selection, charting the data, summarizing, and reporting the results. Of the 352 documents initially reviewed, 35 were ultimately selected as final studies. These documents were analyzed to identify general characteristics and key variables related to burnout and to review the recommendations made by the studies. Results: Analysis of the final documents revealed that most studies published between 2013 and 2018 involved sample sizes ranging from 201 to 300 participants. Burnout-related characteristics include age, salary, work experience, and marital status. Emotional labor was the key variable most frequently identified, followed by intention to leave, job stress, job satisfaction, job involvement, and self-efficacy. Conclusion This study suggests that strategies for preventing and intervening in burnout should be developed through both personal efforts and institutional measures. This approach will improve the work environment for dental hygienists and, consequently, enhance the quality of dental healthcare services.