The purpose of this study was to examine the self-rated oral health status of industrial workers and influential factors for their work loss caused by dental care in an effort to prepare some information on policy setting about the promotion of the oral health of industrial workers and on the prevention of their oral diseases. The married industrial workers experienced work loss due to dental care more commonly than did the unmarried workers (χ²=5.10, p < 0.05). In addition, the workers who found themselves to be in worse health experienced significantly more work loss (χ²=29.69, p < 0.001). The workers who received treatment for oral diseases experienced significantly more work loss than those who did not receive treatment (χ²=14.60, p < 0.001). In addition, the workers who had oral symptoms requiring treatment experienced more work loss than the others who not (χ²=11.08, p < 0.01). The experience of not receiving treatment for a perceived oral disease was more dominant among the workers who found themselves to have an oral disease but did not receive treatment than among those who received treatment (p < 0.001). Regarding factors affecting the work loss of the industrial workers caused by dental care, the workers whose monthly mean income was larger and who found themselves to be in worse health had significantly more experience of absenting themselves from the office or of leaving work early (p < 0.001).
Dental Care* ; Humans ; Oral Health* ; Single Person

This research team extracted keywords from 953 papers published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene Science from 2001 to 2018 for keyword and centrality analyses using the Keyword Network Analysis method. Data were analyzed using Excel 2016 and NetMiner Version 4.4.1. By conducting a deeper analysis between keywords by overall keyword and time frame, we arrived at the following conclusions. For the 17 years considered for this study, the most frequently used words in a dental science paper were “Health,”“Oral,”“Hygiene,” and “Hygienist.” The words that form the center by connecting major words in the Journal of Dental Hygiene through the upper-degree centrality words were “Health,”“Dental,”“Oral,”“Hygiene,” and “Hygienist.” The upper betweenness centrality words were “Dental,”“Health,”“Oral,”“Hygiene,” and “Student.” Analysis results of the degree centrality words per period revealed “Health” (0.227), “Dental” (0.136), and “Hygiene” (0.136) for period 1; “Health” (0.242), “Dental” (0.177), and “Hygiene” (0.113) for period 2; “Health” (0.200), “Dental” (0.176), and “Oral” (0.082) for period 3; and “Dental” (0.235), “Health” (0.206), and “Oral” (0.147) for period 4. Analysis results of the betweenness centrality words per period revealed “Oral” (0.281) and “Health” (0.199) for period 1; “Dental” (0.205) and “Health” (0.169) for period 2, with the weight then dispersing to “Hygiene” (0.112), “Hygienist” (0.054), and “Oral” (0.053); “Health” (0.258) and “Dental” (0.246) for period 3; and “Oral” (0.364), “Health” (0.353), and “Dental” (0.333) for period 4. Based on the above results, we hope that further studies will be conducted in the future with diverse study subjects.
Hope ; Methods ; Oral Hygiene*

This study attempted to identify factors work environment that affect job satisfaction in dental hygienists. This study was conducted between August 29 and September 28, 2017, as part of an in-depth study of the ‘Survey on the Working Environment of Clinical Dental Hygienists’ of the Korean Dental Hygienists Association. To get the responses, the questionnaire was posted on the website of the Korean Dental Hygienists Association, and of the respondents, 4,663 were selected and analyzed. An independent t-test and one way ANOVA analysis were used to make a comparison of job satisfaction according to the general characteristics, salary, and tasks. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors affecting job satisfaction. The significance level was 0.05. In regard to salary information, the job satisfaction was found to be high (p < 0.001) in cases where the salary was considered appropriate, when incentives were provided, when rewards or vacation expenses were supported, and when overtime and nightly work allowances were paid. In regard to job information, the job satisfaction was found to be high (p < 0.001) when the volume of work was considered appropriate, when there were sufficient numbers in the workforce, and when the division of labor among the other personnel was clear. As a factor affecting job satisfaction of dental hygienists, the case of thinking that ‘workload is appropriate’ was found to be 2.052 times, showing the highest score. Job satisfaction in dental hygienists affects the turnover and has a significant effect on the performance of the organization. Therefore, it is believed, that it is urgent to improve the working environment such as salary and clear division of duties affecting job satisfaction of dental hygienists.
Dental Hygienists* ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction* ; Logistic Models ; Motivation ; Reward ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thinking

The consumption of beverages among children is rising. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of kid's drink on dental resin-based pit and fissure sealant. Pororo, I-kicker, Sunkist kids were included in the experimental groups, and Samdasu was included in the control group. A conventional dental sealant material (Clinpro™Sealant®) was selected for this study. Resin specimens (8 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness) were prepared according to manufacturers' instructions and the initial roughness (Ra) was then measured. The pH of all the four groups was measured using a pH meter. The specimens were individually immersed in 5 ml of the experimental solutions and stored at 37℃ for 72 hours. Following this, the surface roughness of the resin specimens was measured by Surftest. The concentration of residual monomer released was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The surface morphology of the resin specimen was evaluated before and after storage by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Duncan's test. The results showed that all the children's beverages examined in this study contained citric acid. The pH of I-kicker was the lowest (3.03±0.01), followed by that of Sunkist kids (3.26±0.02) and Pororo (3.47±0.02). We observed an increase in the surface roughness of resin specimens after 72 h of immersion in all the beverages tested (p < 0.05). There was matrix degradation after immersion, visualized on SEM image, in all the beverage groups. Bisphenol-A-glycidyl methacrylate was not detected after 72 hours, but triethylene glycol dimethacrylate levels were increased in all the beverages tested during the 72 hours by HPLC. These results suggest that intake of beverages containing acid can cause degradation of the resin-based pit and fissure sealants in children.
Beverages* ; Child ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Citric Acid ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immersion ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Pit and Fissure Sealants

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of dental hygienist job according to judgment standard of medical practice in medical law. In this study, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey to evaluate the validity of dental hygienist job for 12 professors of dental college in Gangneung-Wonju National University from November 10 to 20, 2017. We investigated whether the dental hygienist job conforms to the three criteria of medical practice such as disease prevention and treatment, patient care, and health hazard. The response rates were scored and classified into four categories according to the final score. As a result of this study, dental hygienist job are classified into four categories according to judgment standard of medical practice. The higher the level of the category, the higher the degree of difficulty, and the higher the level of expertise and skills required. More than 50% of respondents answered that measuring the gingival pocket, bleeding on probing, professional tooth cleaning, oral health education, counseling after dental treatment are all three criteria for medical treatment. And these were classified into Level 4 group which requires the difficulty and expertise in the final score 4.3. It is necessary to develop and utilize standardized guidelines on the level of knowledge, education, and qualification standards required for dental practice in order to effectively allocate work among the dental personnel while ensuring the health rights of patients in the dental clinic field in Korea. In addition, there is a need to evaluate the various aspects of cost effectiveness, dental health service productivity, and health promotion contribution to dental hygienist jobs, And based on this evidence, it is necessary to continue to expand and adjust the dental hygienist job and to reorganize the dental workforce system.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Counseling ; Dental Clinics ; Dental Health Services ; Dental Hygienists* ; Education ; Efficiency ; Gingival Pocket ; Health Promotion ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Judgment* ; Jurisprudence* ; Korea ; Oral Health ; Patient Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tooth

The demand for medical care and welfare for patients with disabilities is expanding, and healthcare professionals are also increasingly interested in the need for medical care for patients with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the competency of disabled patients' management and the education experience of dental hygiene students, who are the main players of oral health care for disabled patients. A total of 196 students in the dental hygiene department and 3rd and 4th grade students were surveyed using questionnaires. As a result, most of the students had a positive awareness of disabled patients; 84.7% answered with the need to train dental hygienists in specializing in handicapped patients, 76.5% were willing to attend seminars related to disabled patients after graduation, and 71.4% of the students provided dental treatment for patients with disabilities in curriculum and comparative curriculum. The students who provided treatment for disabled patients showed that their competence in most areas of knowledge of disabled patients, oral health education, and oral disease prevention was highly evaluated as significant. The competence of respondents who answered that the theoretical education was sufficient was significantly higher. Based on this, institutional support for the education of dentistry for disabled patients is needed, and sufficient theoretical education and practical training should be offered to foster personnel capable of contributing to the improvement in the oral health of patients with disabilities. In addition, in-depth discussions on the training of dental hygienists specialized in handicapped patients should be conducted.
Clinical Competence* ; Curriculum ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Care for Disabled ; Dental Hygienists ; Disabled Persons ; Education ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions, precedent tasks, positive and negative effects, and expandable professional tasks regarding the inclusion of dental hygienists (DHs) in the category of medical personnel. This study involved a survey of 259 DHs and 128 dentists. The findings were as follows: 94.2% of DHs and 46.9% of dentists were aware of inclusion in the category of medical personnel; 95.0% of DHs and 64.1% of dentists supported the idea; and 84.9% of DHs and 51.6% of dentists recognized its legitimacy. As for precedent tasks for inclusion in the category of medical personnel, both DHs and dentists scored high points in professional consciousness in the area of occupation. Both DHs and dentists scored the highest points in the quality management of DH education and the lowest points in the unification of school systems in the area of institution. In the area of society, DHs scored high points in the persuasion of the central government, whereas dentists scored high points in collaboration among concerned organizations. Regarding the positive effects of inclusion in the category of medical personnel, both DHs and dentists scored the highest points in the expanded perception of DHs. As for its negative effects, DHs scored high points in the aggravation of salary increase, whereas dentists scored high points in the aggravation of salary increase. Regarding expandable professional tasks after the inclusion of DHs in the category of medical personnel, the management of independent periodontal care programs recorded the highest percentage both in DHs and dentists. These findings highlight the need for adequate discussions about the meanings of the inclusion of DHs in the category of medical personnel and will hopefully contribute to the rational adjustment and legalization of DHs' works with regard to their inclusion in the category of medical personnel.
Consciousness ; Cooperative Behavior ; Dental Hygienists* ; Dentists ; Education ; Humans ; Illegitimacy ; Occupations ; Persuasive Communication ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits

This study aimed to provide basic data for establishing the clinical basis for dental hygienist-led dental hygiene process of care by identifying multiple risk factors for self-support program participants in Gangneung city; we also compared oral health status and behavioral changes through customized oral health care. Four dental hygienists who were evaluated for degree of conformity provided dental hygiene process of care to eight self-support program participants who were selected as having an oral health risk among people in the self-support center. The clinical indicators measured during dental hygiene assessment and evaluation and behavioral changes due to dental hygiene intervention were compared and analyzed. With respect to clinical indicators, at the time of probe, the retention rate of patients with gingival bleeding decreased from 61.4% to 14.7% after intervention (p=0.004). Furthermore, the retention rate of patients with a periodontal pocket >4 mm decreased from 15.6% to 5.8% (p=0.001). The average modified O'Leary index of the patients improved from 23 to 40 (p=0.002). Previously, all eight subjects used the vertical or horizontal method of brushing; after dental hygiene care interventions regarding method and frequency of toothbrushing, use of oral care products, and individual interventions, they started using the rolling or Bass method of toothbrushing. Four of eight subjects reported using interdental toothbrushes after intervention. As a result of applying the change model to the transtheoretical behavior change of the subject, the result of strengthening the health behavior was confirmed. For promotion of oral health by the prevention-centered incremental oral health care system, dental hygienist-led dental hygiene management and maintenance is essential. It is thought that continuous research, such as for feasibility evaluation, cost benefit analysis, and preparation of legal systems, is needed to establish and activate dental hygiene management.
Bass ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Dental Hygienists ; Dental Prophylaxis ; Gangwon-do* ; Health Behavior ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Methods ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene* ; Periodontal Pocket ; Risk Factors ; Toothbrushing

Consumption of liquid digestive medicine has continually grown in recent years. This present study was designed to evaluate the capability of liquid digestive medicine to erode dental enamel, relating the pH and titratable acidity of liquid digestive medicine. Three commercially available liquid digestive medicines were chosen these were Gashwalmyeungsu, Saengrokchun and Wicheongsu. The liquid digestive medicines were evaluated in respect to pH, titratable acidity and concentrations of calcium and phosphate, respectively. This measure was carried out three times for each digestive medicine and was recorded the data as mean (standard deviation). Bovine enamel specimens measured microhardness at base line and then were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 10 each. The specimens were immersed into each liquid digestive medicine for 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes and then evaluated each time by VHN. All digestive medicines had a pH of less than 3.7. Wicheongsu had the lowest pH 2.93 and Gashwalmyeungsu had highest pH 3.63. In pH 5.5, titratable acidity of Wicheongsu was 1.27 ml. Gashwalmyeungsu was 0.63 ml. Saengrokchun was 0.60 ml. All liquid digestive medicines showed low concentration of calcium and phosphate. The microhardness of specimens after immersion into liquid digestive medicines was continuously reduced in all digestive medicines. After 30-minute treatment in liquid digestive medicines, Wicheongsu containing low pH and high tiratable acidity was shown to be lowest microhardness value (207.80µ15.52). The three liquid digestive medicines caused surface softening of enamel erosion. We conclude that drinks, commonly consumed by functional dyspepsia patient can cause erosion of enamel.
Calcium ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Dental Enamel* ; Dyspepsia ; Hardness ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immersion ; Tooth Erosion

The study aimed to investigate the effects of differences between personal income and social deprivation on the association between cardio-cerebrovascular disease (hypertension, stroke) and periodontal disease. This study used 12 years of cohort data from the Korea National Health Insurance Service covering the years 2002 to 2013. Among the patients aged more than 40 years who had received treatment for periodontal disease 224,067 and 284,730 who had not received treatment for hypertension and stroke, respectively, were included in the analysis. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed differences in the rate of treatment for cardio-cerebrovascular disease (hypertension, stroke) according to regional differences, the rate of treatment increased as the composite deprivation index value increased. The difference in treatment rates for cardio- cerebrovascular disease (hypertension, stroke) according to income was found to be higher in the treatment group with low income. This study empirically proved that the association between systemic disease and periodontal disease varies depending on personal income and the regional socioeconomic deprivation level. This shows that the clinical influence of periodontal illness on systemic disease differs according to the personal socio-demographic characteristic and residential area and that an individual's characteristic (income and the regional) needs to be considered along with the patient's clinical intervention in the disease treatment process.
Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Korea ; National Health Programs ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Stroke