Standardizing the job description of public health dentists in South Korea / 대한구강보건학회지

Objectives@#This study addressed longstanding issues in Korea’s public health dentist system by defining and standardizing job duties. A practical job description was drafted based on job analysis results to promote work efficiency and lay the groundwork for future educational programs. @*Methods@#The job description elements were selected and drafted based on previous studies.These drafts were revised and refined with expert panel validation. @*Results@#The main job duties of public health dentists encompass community oral health, dental practice, public oral health research, and special oral health, tailored for institutions such as health sub-centers, health centers, health clinics, national health organizations, and correctional facilities. For community oral health at public health subcenters involves 12 key duties including projects, education, and community engagement. Public health centers/clinics focus on 16 key duties mainly around health project planning and evaluation. Dental care across both settings has 15 main duties. Public oral health research emphasizes community surveys and epidemiology. Special oral health in correctional facilities covers 11 main duties including education and external resource linking. @*Conclusions@#It concluded that for the development of public health dentists in South Korea, it is necessary to develop public health dentist education programs to promote the performance of public health dentists and to equip them with the competencies necessary to perform such duties, focusing on job descriptions organized around the characteristics of workplaces and major tasks.

Change in plaque control ability by the professional oral health care program / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the impact of a regular professional oral health care program and the accompanying oral health education. METHODS: We included 552 patients who visited the C dental hospital more than 5 times as part of a regular professional oral health care program from January 2009 to March 2014. This program comprised of an O'Leary plaque control record, tooth brushing instructions, professional tooth brushing, professional tooth cleaning, periodontal or operative treatment (optional), and education on auxiliary devices. The O'Leary plaque control record was evaluated at the fifth consecutive visit, from the first visit to the recent visit. RESULTS: The study data revealed that patient plaque control rate significantly increased with a lapse in care provided from the baseline. However, no intergroup differences were observed with respect to age and sex. The plaque controlling ability of a patient who was educated on the Watanabe's brushing method, which was a combination of the Watanabe's brushing method and rolling method, was significantly increased. Use of an interdental brush, attending the 5-time tooth brushing instruction program, and tooth polishing aided to enhance the plaque-control rate. Further, the plaque control rate of a patient with a pontic, fully covered tooth and implant was significantly higher than those without the same. The Watanabe's brushing method, number of fully covered teeth, and number of implants were significant variables that impacted the final plaque control rate, as ascertained using multiple linear regression analysis. Increased plaque control rate was maintained till the recent evaluation from the fifth visit. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of patients to reduce plaque formation was improved after the educational program, which comprised of tooth brushing instructions as part of a regular professional oral health care program.

Evaluation of the validity of Qraycam for tooth examination during epidemiological surveys / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate applicability of the Qraycam device for detecting caries and filling body during tooth examinations. METHODS: Fifty-two subjects aged 25 to 34 years were recruited for tooth examination. Two examiners (an epidemiologic expert and a non-expert) performed visual tooth examination using only dental operating light, dental mirror, and air-drying without a dental explorer. Pictures or videos of every tooth surface were obtained under visual ray and 405 nm blue ray, respectively, by using Qraycam. The two examiners then evaluated these videos or images more than 7 days after visual examination. RESULTS: The results of the visual, visible ray image, and 405 nm blue ray image examinations showed very good kappa agreement with the gold standard for both examiners. The 405 nm blue ray image examination showed higher kappa agreement than visible ray image examination, and was similar to visual examination. Accuracy of detecting caries was enhanced by using 405 nm blue ray images from Qraycam. Accuracy of detecting filling body on 405 nm blue ray image examination was almost same as that by visual examination. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth examination with Qraycam images revealed high agreement with the gold standard and showed accuracy for detecting caries and filling body. Therefore, Qraycam would enhance the quality of oral epidemiologic survey including tooth examination and save cost and time of survey.

Effect of the education interval and method on improving Patients' plaque control ability / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral health education interval and toothbrushing instruction, the difference between the demonstration-only method and the demonstration with chairside practice toothbrushing instruction method, and the effect of initial patient plaque control ability on the plaque index. METHODS: Patients (n=60) were randomly assigned to receive a 1-week, 2-week, or 3-week interval of oral health education and toothbrushing instruction. Each group was further subdivided into the demonstration-only group and the demonstration with chairside practice group. Patients were categorized as having "good", "fair", or "poor" initial plaque control ability, based on the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein plaque index (TQHI). Patients attended five sessions during which they received oral health education and toothbrushing instruction of the modified Bass technique. Plaque evaluation was performed at each visit using the TQHI. RESULTS: The plaque index tended to improve from the first visit to the fifth visit, but there were no significant differences between the 1-week, 2-week, and 3-week education interval. The demonstration with the chairside practice group showed significantly greater improvements in the plaque index, compared to the demonstration-only group. In the good, fair, and poor plaque control ability groups, the plaque index improved gradually from the first to the fifth visit. When plaque control was poor, the improvement in the plaque index increased to a greater degree after oral health education and toothbrushing instruction. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may be helpful for suggesting appropriate individualized oral hygiene management methods to improve plaque control ability.

Association of oral health status and related factors with oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) among patients in a dental hospital in Gwangju, Korea / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the association between oral health status and oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) among patients undergoing treatment in a dental hospital, in order to develop an oral health care method for improving oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). METHODS: A total of 980 patients aged 7-89 years were selected from a dental hospital between May 2011 and March 2014. Questionnaires on oral health impact profile (OHIP-14K) were distributed to the patients, and their dental records were examined to find out their oral health status. RESULTS: OHIP-14 scores of patients with periodontal pockets over 4 mm and presence of chronic general disease were significantly higher than those without pockets and chronic disease (P<0.05). Factors such as age, gender, having prosthesis or dental implant, regular oral health care over a period of 1 year were not significantly associated with OHIP-14 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal health status and chronic general disease could be factors associated with OHRQoL. Thus, improving oral symptoms through professional oral care may help improve OHRQoL.

Prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity in a dental hospital / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a dentine hypersensitivity (DH) manual for a dental hospital. METHODS: The records of all DH patients who presented between 2005 to 2010 were analyzed to determine their age group, awareness of DH, and DH distribution before and after dental treatment. RESULTS: Out of 953,272 patients, data of 4,646 were analyzed. The male to female ratio of DH patients was found to be 1:1:1. The prevalence of DH was highest in patients in the age group of 40-49 years. The DH awareness rate was high to time, temperature and after dental treatment factor in the middle-age group. CONCLUSIONS: Since DH is widely prevalent and common, systematic screening is essential to ensure good oral health.

A association between self-reported oral health and oral health status among Korean male soldiers aged 18-24 / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study is aimed to evaluate the correlation between self-reported oral health and caries experience, and to find out factors that affect perceived oral health status and treatment need in Korean male soldiers aged 18 to 24. METHODS: The cross-sectional oral health examination and questionnaire survey about the attitude of oral health were conducted (n=2,436). The survey contained self-reported oral health status, self-reported dental treatment need and associated factors. RESULTS: Caries experience like DMFT, DT, FT, and MT indices were significantly different by selfreported oral health status, as well as the self-perceived dental treatment need (P<0.005). Experience rates of 'tooth pain', 'periodontal pain', 'tooth hypersensitiveness', 'gingival bleeding', 'tooth cavity', 'oral malodor', 'need prophylaxis', 'former dental treatment', 'smoking' and 'scaling' were different by selfreported oral health status and self-perceived dental treatment need (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subjective oral health perception reflected objective oral health status and other oral health related factors.

Effect of regular oral health care on aggressive periodontitis using Watanabe's tooth brushing method: case report / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of regular oral health care using Watanabe's tooth brushing method on aggressive periodontitis. METHODS: A 14-year-old female visited our clinic with the chief complaint of gingival swelling and teeth mobility in 2008. The present illness on the day of visit was gingivitis with swelling and redness on marginal gingiva, root exposure due to the attachment loss and gingival recession and the degree 3 mobility of #26, 36, 46 with no systemic disease and familial tendency. The panoramic radiograph showed the severe vertical and horizontal alveolar bone loss in the first molars. For the treatment, preventive care including tooth brushing instruction and professional tooth brushing using Watanabe's method and periodontal treatment using scaling and root planing, plaque control and antibiotics prescription were performed from the July, 2008 to September, 2012. RESULTS: The patient could maintain all of her teeth without extraction except for one molar during the treatment period and symptoms of gingivitis decreased all over the oral region. But dental plaque level was not decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The regular oral health care with professional toothbrushing by Watanabe's method was effective in relieving the gingival inflammation of patients with aggressive periodontitis.

Cognition of 119 emergency medical technicians on dental emergency treatment in the Jeju province / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the cognition of 119 emergency medical technician (EMT) on dental emergency treatment. METHODS: A total of 184 subjects completed the questionnaire composed of 14 items during which, 119 EMT participated in periodic refresher training in Jeju province. Independent sample t-test and chi-square test were used to assess the state of 119 EMT on dental emergency treatment. RESULTS: Qualified region of respondents were both in the Jeju province (71.7%) and outside of the Jeju province (28.3%). The class of education on dentistry in formal education that answered 0 hour was 64.7% and 1-3 hours was 16.8% of respondents. The class of refresher training on dentistry that answered 0 hour was 78.3% and 1-3 hours was 13.0%, aggregately 91.3%. The results showed low score in reduction (1.93+/-1.10) and fixation (1.88+/-1.02) of dislocated temporo-madibular joint by 5-point Likert scale. Likewise, the scores were 2.30+/-0.92 in the treatment of maxillofacial trauma, 3.21 +/-1.20 in emergent care of avulsed tooth, and 3.42+/-1.26 in treatment time of avulsed tooth, respectively. The class of education on dentistry in formal education between the qualified regions showed a statistically significant difference (P <.05) and the refresher training time was observed to be borderline (P =0.069). There was no significant difference on the cognition of emergency dental treatment, according to the qualified region. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the result of this study, we think the education of dental emergency could play an important role in the initial management of injuries and suggest a further co-study with EMT.

Buccal cortical bone thickness on CBCT for mini-implant / 대한구강악안면방사선학회지

PURPOSE: Cortical bone thickness is one of the important factor in mini-implant stability. This study was performed to investigate the buccal cortical bone thickness at every interdental area as an aid in planning mini-implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-dimensional slices at every interdental area were selected from the cone-beam computed tomography scans of 20 patients in third decade. Buccal cortical bone thickness was measured at 2, 4, and 6 mm levels from the alveolar crest in the interdental bones of posterior regions of both jaws using the plot profile function of Ez3D2009trade mark (Vatech, Yongin, Korea). The results were analyzed using by Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Buccal cortical bone was thicker in the mandible than in the maxilla. The thickness increased with further distance from the alveolar crest in the maxilla and with coming from the posterior to anterior region in the mandible (p<0.01). The maximum CT value showed an increasing tendency with further distance from the alveolar crest and with coming from posterior to anterior region in both jaws. CONCLUSION: Interdental buccal cortical bone thickness varied in both jaws, however our study showed a distinct tendency. We expect that these results could be helpful for the selection and preparation of mini-implant sites.

A Case of Hidroacanthoma Simplex / 대한피부과학회지

Hidroacanthoma simplex is a rare skin tumor which most often develops on the lower extremity of an elderly person. Clinically, the lesion appears as a well-demarcated brownish flat or verrucous plaque, resembling seborrheic keratosis or Bowen's disease. Histologically, it is characterized by intraepidermal nests of basaloid cells within an acanthotic epidermis. there is some controversy over the histogenesis of hidroacanthoma simplex, many consider it an epidermal tumor differentiation into intraepidermal eccrine duct cells. We report a case of hidroacanthoma simplex presented a small verrucous papule on the left foot with the results of an immunohistochemical study.