OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between smoking status and periodontitis risk in Korean adults. METHODS: This study used data collected from the 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The final sample included 5,513 subjects over 19 years of age who had completed the necessary health behaviors survey and health examinations. RESULTS: First, based on a stratification analysis by gender, women who smoked more than 20 cigarettes daily had a 9.99-fold greater risk of periodontal disease than men. The risk of periodontal disease was higher in patients who began smoking at a later age. In patients with less than 20-40 lifelong smoking years, there was an increased risk of periodontitis, especially in men. Second, in a stratification analysis based on the presence of diabetes, patients with diabetes and a history of past smoking had a 2.53-fold higher risk of periodontal disease than non-smoking patients with diabetes. In both healthy and diabetic patients, the risk of periodontal disease increased with the daily smoking quantity and with age, and was also increased in individuals with less than 20-40 lifelong smoking years. The risk of periodontal disease was higher in the diabetes group overall, regardless of smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a high level of smoking can increase periodontal disease risk independently of sex and the presence of diabetes in Koreans. This study implies that smoking may be an independent risk factor for periodontal disease.
Adult* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Periodontitis ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the pattern of dental caries in a high-risk group of Korean adolescents. METHODS: Raw data on 10,542 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 years from the 2012 Korean National Oral Health Survey was used. The subjects were divided into a high caries risk group and non-high caries risk group for analysis. For the statistical analyses, we utilized a frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, and a multidimensional scaling analysis. RESULTS: The pattern of dental caries in the high caries risk group were divided into six classifications for 12-year-olds and five for 15-year-olds, including the mandibular first molar occlusal surface (Cluster 1). In the high caries risk group, the frequency of Cluster 1 was approximately 4-times higher in 12-year-olds than that in the non-high caries risk group of Cluster 1, and about 3-times higher in 15-year-olds. The multidimensional scaling analysis found that in the high caries risk group, the same types of tooth surfaces formed separate groups. The prevalent dental caries pattern of 12-year-olds in the high caries risk group was left-right symmetry, while in the 15-year-olds of the high caries risk group, the caries pattern also included the antagonistic teeth, along with left-right symmetry. However, the non-high caries risk group had a pattern of left-right symmetry only in the 15-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS: When dental caries occur in the first molar, there is a high possibility of being classified into the high caries risk group. Therefore, preventative measures should focus on the antagonistic teeth and the teeth on the opposite side.
Adolescent* ; Child ; Classification ; Dental Caries* ; Dentition, Permanent ; Humans ; Molar ; Oral Health ; Tooth

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between a community-level factor and dental scaling experience and to confirm the associations with individual factors in Korea. METHODS: In total, 203,088 individuals from 243 communities participated in the 2013 Community Health Survey. A dichotomized response of experiences with dental scaling was used as the outcome and the regional deprivation index was used as the explanatory community-level factor. In addition, various individual factors were included as covariates. In the bivariate analysis, the chi-square test was used. Multilevel multivariate logistic regression was also performed where in four models were applied. The bivariate analysis showed that all factors at the individual and community level showed significant associations with an individual's experience with dental scaling. RESULTS: The factors that were significantly associated with the dental scaling experience were being male, being 40-49 years old, having a higher income level, being economically active, having a higher education level, being a non-smoker, being a drinker, having good periodontal health, using oral hygiene products, tooth-brushing after lunch, and residing in less deprived regions (P<0.01). As with the results of multilevel logistic regression analysis, the regional deprivation index was significantly associated with scaling experience after adjusting for individual factors with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97-0.99), demonstrating an association between a lack of experience with scaling and lower socioeconomic status in the community. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the scaling experience was affected not only by individual factors, but also by factors at the community level. Future studies are required to examine the detailed relationships between oral health and other community factors such as medical and social capital.
Dental Scaling* ; Education ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Lunch ; Male ; Multilevel Analysis* ; Odds Ratio ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene ; Social Capital ; Social Class

OBJECTIVES: Many people rely on recommendations from family, relatives, and other information sources in order to select the appropriate dental clinic for treatment. The object of this study was to find out the relationship between quality of dental service and Korean Net Promoter Score (KNPS). METHODS: A total of 520 patients were selected through consecutive sampling from four dental clinics in Daegu city. Informed consent of all selected patients was obtained. The patients were required to complete a questionnaire that comprised of three categories of queries related to provision of satisfactory dental service, relation quality, and personal data. Sub-categories of questions included physical and environmental factors, human service factors, patients' satisfaction with related quality and KNPS. Data was collected by interviewing all individuals on a personal basis over a period of 3 months. Statistical analysis was performed using studental t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 20.0 software (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: Among the various socio-economic factors studied, income was most significantly related to KNPS while satisfaction of relation quality was the largest factor affecting the KNPS. Factors such as satisfactory physical environment, quality of human service, relation quality and income accounted for 52.4% of KNPS. In short, the three major factors that affected KNPS were patient compliance, professionalism of the attending dentist and response of hygienist to patient. Other minor factors influencing KNPS included trust upon the attending dentist, aesthetics of clinicstiinterior, and physical convenience. CONCLUSIONS: It is highly recommended that dental clinics should make strenuous efforts to increase the level of patient compliance, professionalism, and response towards patients, which can be achieved by improving the quality of service and through positive marketing of the hospital.
Daegu ; Dental Clinics ; Dentists ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Marketing ; Patient Compliance ; Professionalism

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the difference in dental care utilization between diabetics (diabetes group) and nondiabetics (normal group). METHODS: We examined the data of 5108 subjects enrolled in the Korea Health Panel Survey, every year for three years between 2010 and 2012. Of these, 458 subjects were included in the diabetes group and 458 in the normal group using the propensity score matching method to control confounding variables. To compare dental care utilization by the diabetes and normal groups, we examined the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using a generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: We found that the odds of dental care utilization by the diabetes group compared with the normal group was significantly high (OR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.60-2.09). The result was consistent according to sensitivity analysis (OR=1.96, 95% CI: 1.63-2.35). CONCLUSIONS: Dental care utilization by the diabetes group was 82% higher than that by the normal group. Therefore, patients with diabetes need to be more concerned about oral health care.
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Dental Care* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Methods ; Odds Ratio ; Oral Health ; Propensity Score

OBJECTIVES: Adolescence is a time during which health behaviors and attitudes that significantly affect the quality of life are formed. The aim of this study was to analyze data from a large national survey to determine the effect of health behaviors and the DMFT index as well as oral and general health behavior patterns on oral health in adolescents. METHODS: Data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to analyze the association between health behaviors and the DMFT index in Korean adolescents. The data were analyzed using SAS version 19.3. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the variables, and 95% confidence intervals were computed. RESULTS: Sex, age, private medical insurance coverage, usage of oral-hygiene-assistance products, lack of dental treatment, and the status of self-recognition of oral health were the factors that had a significant influence on oral health among adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings provided further evidence supporting the promotion of school-based oral health programs and highlighting the need of oral health education for adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Education ; Health Behavior* ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys ; Oral Health* ; Quality of Life

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