METHODS: A nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted using patient records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. For the period 2004-2019, patient data were categorized into 2 groups: a diagnosis of OSA (747 subjects) and no diagnosis of OSA (1,494 subjects). Subsequently, 1:2 propensity score matching was performed to ensure the homogeneity of the 2 groups. To analyze the risk of incident chronic periodontitis, a Cox proportional-hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In the Kaplan-Meier curve, the disease-free probability was significantly lower in the OSA group than in the non-OSA group (p for log-rank test=0.001). The crude HR for the association between OSA and chronic periodontitis was 1.29 (95% CI, 1.16 to 1.43). The multivariable-adjusted HR was calculated at 1.28 (95% CI, 1.15 to 1.42). CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed a relationship between OSA and chronic periodontitis. Therefore, OSA patients require oral care to prevent the progression of chronic periodontitis from mild to severe.

The purpose of this study was to reveal analyze the relationship between status of participation in an oral health care program and oral health outcomes among patients in Korea, and to evaluate the results to provide evidence regarding the feasibility of widespread implementation of the program. Patients were designated as either cooperative or non-cooperative with the oral health care program and were assigned to each group accordingly. Modified dental hygiene process (M-DHP) of the oral healthcare program was modified to form the dental hygiene process. The study included 48 patients at a dental clinic in Busan, Korea. Questionnaires were used to collect information on oral health behavior (OHB), clinical examination was used to record bleeding on probing (BOP) and O'Leary index, and phase microscopy was used to identify microorganisms. Differences between groups were evaluated using repeated measures ANOVA. Our results showed that the group cooperative with the oral health care program showed greater improvement in OHB, BOP, and O'Leary index than the non-cooperative group. Second, patient satisfaction with the M-DHP was very high, particularly for content and the friendly nature of the staff. The cooperative group showed greater improvement in oral health than the non-cooperative group for all metrics. Our results suggest that this low-coste program, if implemented, would be actively accepted and utilized in dental clinics.
Busan ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Clinics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Microscopy ; Oral Health* ; Oral Hygiene ; Oral Hygiene Index ; Patient Satisfaction ; Periodontal Index

BACKGROUND: Oral diseases are caused by various systemic and local factors, the most closely related being the biofilm. However, the challenges involved in removing an established biofilm necessitate professional care for its removal. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of professional self and professional biofilm care in healthy patients to prevent the development of periodontal diseases. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients who visited the dental clinic between September 2018 and February 2019 were included in this study. Self-biofilm care was performed by routine tooth brushing and professional biofilm care was provided using the toothpick method (TPM) or the oral prophylaxis (OP) method using a rubber cup. Subgingival bacterial motility and halitosis (levels of hydrogen sulfide, H₂2S; methyl mercaptan, CH₃SH; and di-methyl sulfide, (CH₃)₂S) were measured before, immediately after, and 5 hours after the preventive treatment in the three groups. Repeated measures analysis of variance test was performed to determine significant differences among the groups. RESULTS: TPM was effective immediately after the prevention treatment, whereas OP was more effective after 5 hours (proximal surfaces, F=16.353, p<0.001; smooth surfaces, F=66.575, p<0.001). The three components responsible for halitosis were effectively reduced by professional biofilm care immediately after the preventive treatment; however, self-biofilm care was more effective after 5 hours (H₂S, F=3.564, p=0.011; CH₃SH, F=6.657, p<0.001; (CH₃)₂S, F=21.135, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: To prevent oral diseases, it is critical to monitor the biofilm. The dental hygienist should check the oral hygiene status and the ability of the patient to administer oral care. Professional biofilm care should be provided by assessing and treating each surface of the tooth. We hope to strengthen our professional in biofilm care through continuous clinical research.
Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Dental Care ; Dental Clinics ; Dental Hygienists ; Halitosis ; Hope ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; Methods ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene ; Periodontal Diseases ; Rubber ; Tooth

Background: The incidence of dementia in Korea is a serious social problem, as the number of patients with dementia is increasing with a decrease in the age of dementia onset dementia is associated with oral disease among various causes, but there is very low awareness of the relationship between dementia and oral health. Therefore, in view of the above, we aimed to check oral health promotion and dementia prevention behaviors and use them as basic data for preventing dementia. Methods: In this study, we conducted a month-long survey of people aged 40 years and above living in South Korea, and reclaimed 140 survey questionnaires. Frequency analysis was performed for the perception level of the relationship between dementia and oral health, and the demographic characteristics assessed according to the perception level. Independent t-tests were performed for the mean comparison between oral health promotion and dementia prevention behaviors. Correlation analysis was performed for the relationship between the three variables (oral health promotion and dementia prevention behaviors, the perception level of the relationship between them). Results: The results showed that groups with a high level of awareness of the relationship between dementia and oral health were more likely to develop oral health promotion and dementia prevention behaviors (p＜0.01). In addition, the higher the level of awareness related to dementia and oral health, the greater the likelihood of oral health and dementia prevention behaviors (p＜ 0.01). Conclusion Therefore, we should try to improve dementia prevention and oral health promotion by providing accurate knowledge and awareness of the relevance between dementia and oral health.

This study compared the perception, necessity, and satisfaction of free school foodservice among parents of students with and without access to free school foodservice. The sample included parents of students with access to free school foodservice (FSF group, 250 parents) or paid school foodservice (PSF group, 250 parents) in Taean, Chungnam. With regard to perception of school foodservice, 30% of PSF parents responded that it is a necessary part of school education, whereas 52% of FSF parents considered it as a part of national welfare service; this difference was significant (P<0.001). In terms of positive remarks, most parents in the PSF group highlighted convenience whereas the FSF group answered that their children were penalized; this difference was significant (P<0.001). In addition, 94% of PSF parents and 96.8% of FSF parents indicated that school foodservice is necessary. In terms of the perception of the free school foodservice, more FSF parents (96.4%) than PSF parents (84.4%) answered that they knew free school foodservice well; this difference was significant (P<0.001). With regard to target recipients of the free school foodservice, most parents in the PSF group said that needy students should be selected, whereas the FSF group said that all students should be eligible; this difference was significant (P<0.001). Acceptance of free school foodservice in the FSF group (34.4%) was significantly higher than that in the PSF group (23.2%). Satisfaction with free school foodservice was 3.5 points in the FSF group, which was significantly higher than the 2.9 points in the PSF group (P<0.001). In summary, parents of students with access to free school foodservice showed more positive perception and higher satisfaction than parents of students with paid school foodservice. This study recommends that parents' suggestions be considered and further perception and responses on free school foodservice be investigated.
Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Education ; Humans ; Parents*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a clinical preventative care program, based on a dental hygiene process (accessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation; ADPIE) in a dental clinic, by analyzing patient recognition, knowledge, practice, and satisfaction with respect to oral health. The collected data (in percentages) were analyzed Fisher's exact test and paired t-test using IBM SPSS ver. 21.0 (IBM Co., USA). This study demonstrated a significant difference in oral health knowledge, recognition, and practice before and after the clinical preventive care program (p<0.05). The results were significant in the individual preventive plan within the planning stage, and in the professional teeth cleaning implementation stage (p<0.05). This result can be attributed to the sympathy of the dental hygienist (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between recommending dental checkups and regular checking of the (r=0.552, p<0.05), undergoing radiography (r=0.434, p<0.01), following an individual preventive plan (r=0.568, p<0.01), undergoing proximal machine teeth cleaning (r=0.437, p<0.05), following tooth brushing instructions (r=0.552, p<0.05), and the evaluation results (r=1.000, p<0.05). Our results demonstrate, that the clinical preventive care program, based on dental hygiene, is an effective program. Given the positive effect of dental revisits and patient recommendations promoting dental hygienists, it is hoped that this preventative program will be widely used.
Dental Clinics ; Dental Hygienists ; Diagnosis ; Hope ; Humans ; Oral Health* ; Oral Hygiene* ; Radiography ; Tooth

The purpose of this research was to investigate perception, necessity, and satisfaction of a free foodservice in male middle school students. This study was conducted at male middle schools with paid foodservice (PFS group, 250 students) and with free foodservice (FFS group, 250 students) in Chungnam. Average age of students in the PFS group was 13.1 while that of FFS students was 12.8 years. Exactly 88% of PFS students and 94% of FFS students responded that school foodservice is necessary, which was a significant difference (P<0.05). As the reason for participating in foodservice, about 32% of the PFS students answered the school's request while 33.6% of FFS students answered nutrition, showing a significant difference (P<0.001). Exactly 72.8% of PFS and 96.4% of FFS knew about FFS (P<0.001). More PFS students (86.4%) than FFS students (66%) answered they would not participate in foodservice if the FFS would be introduced and the quality of meal service would deteriorate. After initiation to FFS, there were significant differences in assessment of foodservice: 77.6% of PFS students answered expected that the quality of foodservice would degrade, whereas 74.4% of FFS students answered that quality would not degrade (P<0.001). Satisfaction of foodservice was 2.3 points for FFS students, which was significantly lower than the 2.5 points for PFS students (P<0.001). To sum up assessment of foodservice was positive, whereas satisfaction was not significantly different between PFS and FFS. Based on this research, households, schools, and governments should promote FFS in order to diminish financial pressure for students.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Male ; Meals

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the severity of depression, degree of life satisfaction, level of stress, and resilience among patients in the first 6 months after a spinal cord injury (SCI). METHOD: 36 patients with SCI were asked to fill out questionnaires concerning Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-BREF, Stress Response Inventory, and Connor-Davidson resilience scale. All patients had experienced an SCI within the last 6 months before the commencement of this study. RESULTS: In our study, the patients who experienced the SCI within the last six months had a higher rate of depression (63.9%) and a higher overall level of depression (13.8 points). The unmarried group had a significantly higher quality of life (QOL; p<0.05) when compared with the married group. In the motor complete group, severity of depression and level of stress were higher, whereas QOL was lower than the motor incomplete group (p<0.05). The mean American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Motor Score (AMS) was much higher in the non-depressive group (p<0.05) when compared with the depressive group. CONCLUSION: We found the patients within six months after SCI injury had higher rate of depression and higher overall level of depression. Also, patients with motor complete injury had affected significantly on depression, QOL and stress. We found the married patients had poorer QOL and depressive group had lower AMS score of lower extremity. Therefore, there should be emphasis of psychological care who have motor complete injury and are married during the early stage.
Depression ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Quality of Life ; Single Person ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Injuries ; World Health Organization ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Background: Occupational allergic contact dermatitis accounts for about half of all occupational skin diseases. Patch testing is essential for establishing a diagnosis of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. To date, allergic contact dermatitis caused by seawater has rarely been reported. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the patch test results of seawater in foreign maritime workers. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical photos and medical records of patients who underwent the patch test with the Korean standard series and sea-water at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital from January 2017 to August 2020. Results: A total of 26 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients were men with a median age of 26.5 years.Twenty-five patients were Sri Lankan, and 25 patients (96.2%) showed a positive reaction to seawater. Patients showed positive reactions with multiple allergens (average: 4), and the positive rates were higher than those reported in previous studies. Atypical reactions, such as pricking patterns or erosive patches, have been observed. A marked erosive reaction was observed even at the site without allergen attachment in a patient who showed a negative reaction to seawater. Conclusion These results suggest the possibility of artificially inducing positive reactions to seawater in maritime workers. Therefore, it is necessary to identify atypical reactions and confirm the relationship between positive reactions and medical history when judging contact dermatitis with unknown substances such as seawater. This study emphasizes education on the standardization of the reading of results.

Background: Occupational allergic contact dermatitis accounts for about half of all occupational skin diseases. Patch testing is essential for establishing a diagnosis of occupational allergic contact dermatitis. To date, allergic contact dermatitis caused by seawater has rarely been reported. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the patch test results of seawater in foreign maritime workers. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical photos and medical records of patients who underwent the patch test with the Korean standard series and sea-water at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s Hospital from January 2017 to August 2020. Results: A total of 26 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients were men with a median age of 26.5 years.Twenty-five patients were Sri Lankan, and 25 patients (96.2%) showed a positive reaction to seawater. Patients showed positive reactions with multiple allergens (average: 4), and the positive rates were higher than those reported in previous studies. Atypical reactions, such as pricking patterns or erosive patches, have been observed. A marked erosive reaction was observed even at the site without allergen attachment in a patient who showed a negative reaction to seawater. Conclusion These results suggest the possibility of artificially inducing positive reactions to seawater in maritime workers. Therefore, it is necessary to identify atypical reactions and confirm the relationship between positive reactions and medical history when judging contact dermatitis with unknown substances such as seawater. This study emphasizes education on the standardization of the reading of results.