Objectives: This study examined dental care utilization among older adults who use long-term care (LTC) insurance and identified sociodemographic and LTC-related factors associated with dental care utilization. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the 2019 data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Elderly Cohort Database. We examined the data of 50,606 beneficiaries aged ≥60 years. Stepwise multiple logistic regression was performed to identify the impact of sociodemographic and LTC-specific factors on dental service utilization. Results: The dental care utilization rate was 29.4%. Higher utilization was significantly associated with male sex, younger age, urban residence, higher income, and disability. Notably, LTC characteristics were strong predictors of dental service utilization: home-based care users were 2.26 times more likely to use dental services than facility-based users (OR=2.26, 95% CI: 2.11-2.43).Utilization significantly decreased with higher LTC severity (grade 1; OR=0.22). Dental utilization was higher when a spouse was the primary caregiver but lower when care was provided by paid caregivers. Conclusions Dental care utilization among LTC recipients is constrained by structural factors, including benefit types and caregiving environments. Policy efforts should focus on institutionalizing home-visit dental services and enhancing caregivers’ oral health competencies within the LTC system.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop an age-friendly oral health lifestyle service application to enhance older adults’ self-management and promote a prevention-oriented approach to oral health. The application integrates user-centered design principles and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior (COM-B) behavioral change theory to mitigate oral function decline and the digital divide. Methods: The application was developed based on three principles: (1) user-centered design, reflecting the physical and cognitive characteristics of older adults with large fonts, high-contrast colors, intuitive icons, and simplified navigation; (2) behavioral change theory (COM-B model), enhancing capability, opportunity, and motivation through educational content, mobile accessibility, and feedback using self-monitoring and goal setting; and (3) a prevention-oriented approach, aligned with the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan. The system included four modules: (1) a 16-item self-assessment across five oral health domains, (2) a three-level risk classification with visual feedback (green/yellow/red), (3) a personalized education module with multimedia content, and (4) a habit-formation tool that supported self-monitoring and reminders. Results: An Android-based prototype was developed with four menus: self-assessment, feedback, education, and habit formation. The self-assessment tool classified users into low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups and provided motivational feedback. Based on the results, stage-specific educational videos and motivational cues were delivered as alerts. Senior-friendly UI/UX features such as large text, high contrast, intuitive icons, and tactile feedback enhanced accessibility and usability. Overall, the prototype integrated oral frailty assessment with theory-based interventions, fostering self-efficacy and engagement in preventive oral healthcare. Conclusions The application provides an accessible theory-based digital solution that empowers older adults to manage their oral health and prevent frailty. This presents a promising model for shifting oral health care to self-care and prevention. Future studies will use surveys and log data to examine the relationships among usage, usefulness, usability, acceptance, and behavior change. A randomized controlled trial is required to verify the effectiveness of this application.

New techniques for regenerating the destructed periodontal tissue have been studied for many years. Current acceptable methods of promoting periodontal regeneration are basis of removal of diseased soft tissue, root treatment, guided tissue regeneration, graft materials, and biological mediators. Platelet Rich Plasma has been reported as a biological mediator which regulates activities of wound healing progress including cell proliferation, migration, and metabolism. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of using the Platelet Rich Plasma as a regeneration promoting agent for furcation involvement defect. Five adult beagle dogs were used in this experiment. The dogs were anesthetized with Ketamin HCl(0.1 ml/kg, IV)and Xylazine hydrochloride(Rompun(R), Bayer, 0.1 ml/kg, IM) and conventional periodontal prophylaxis were performed with ultrasonic scaler and hand instruments. With intrasulcular and crestal incision, mucoperiosteal flap was elevated. Following decortication with 1/2 high speed round bur, degree II furcation defect was made on mandibular third(P3), forth(P4) and fifth(P5) premolar, and stopping was inserted. After 4 weeks, stopping was removed, and bone graft was performed. Ca-P was grafted in P3(experimental group I), Combination of Ca-P and plasma rich platelet were grafted in P4(experimental group II), and P5 was remained at control group.Systemic antibiotics(gentamicin sulfate)and anlgesics(phenyl butazone) were administrated intramuscular for 2 weeks after surgery. Irrigation with 0.1% Chlorhexidine Gluconate around operate sites was performed during the whole experimental period except one day immediate after surgery. Soft diets were fed through the whole experiment period. After 4, 8 weeks, the animals were sacrificed by perfusion technique. Tissue block was excised including the tooth and prepared for light microscope with Gomori's trichrome staining. At 4 weeks after surgery, there were rapid osteogenesis phenomenon on the defected area of the Platelet Rich Plasma plus Ca-P BBP group and early trabeculation pattern was made with new osteoid tissue produced by activated osteoblast. Bone formation was almost completed to the fornix of furcation by 8 weeks after surgery. In conclusion, Platelet Rich Plasma can promote rapid osteogenesis during healing of periodontalregeneration.
Adult ; Animals ; Bicuspid ; Blood Platelets* ; Cell Proliferation ; Chlorhexidine ; Diet ; Dogs* ; Furcation Defects* ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Hand ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Perfusion ; Plasma ; Platelet-Rich Plasma* ; Regeneration ; Tooth ; Transplants ; Ultrasonics ; Wound Healing ; Xylazine