Risk indicators of periodontal disease in Korean adults / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk indicators of periodontal disease in a representative sample of Korean adults aged between 18 and 44 years. METHODS: Data of 6,485 adults were derived from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was conducted from 2007 to 2009. Demographic, socioeconomic, and oral health-related behavioral data were collected as independent variables. The Community Periodontal Index (CPI) was used as a dependent variable. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the relationship between the CPI and the other variables. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that periodontal pocket formation (4 mm or more) was related with sex, age, and income level, irrespective of whether the mother engaged in economic activities in childhood, smoking experience, dental flossing, and use of interdental brushes. The subjects in the lowest-income quartile and those who were current smokers had a higher risk of pocket formation (odds ratios, 1.43 and 1.74, respectively) than those in the highest-income quartile and those who had no smoking experience, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed various risk indicators of periodontal disease in Korean adults, using Korean national survey data. Smoking cessation, dental flossing, and efforts to decrease socioeconomic inequality should be encouraged to decrease the risk of periodontal disease.

Caries preventive effect of permanent teeth using pit and fissure sealant program and community water fluoridation program / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the caries preventive effects of oral health programs composed of pit and fissure sealant and community water fluoridation in Hapcheon-Up, Hapcheon-Gun, the Republic of Korea. METHODS: Dental surveys were conducted on 6 to 14 year old children at Hapcheon-Up, Hapcheon-Gun in 2000 and 2009, respectively. The number of the subjects was 1,957 and 1,535 children in 2000 and 2009, respectively. The percentage of samples among total population aged 6 to 14 years in 2000 and 2009 was 90.6% and 92.3%, respectively. The obtained data from these surveys were analyzed with the PASW statistical package version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The 2009 dental health data including the prevalence of dental caries and fissure sealants on children's permanent teeth was compared to the 2000 dental health data, and assessed using chi-square test and independent-sample t-test. RESULTS: DMF rate of 12-year olds was 76.9% in 2000, and it significantly decreased to 42.5% in 2009. DMFT index of 12-year olds was 3.03 in 2000, and it significantly decreased to 1.07 in 2009. The prevalence rate of sealed permanent teeth among the 12-year olds was 15.4% in 2000, and it significantly increased to 97.2% in 2009. The caries reduction rate from pit and fissure sealant added by community water fluoridation program was calculated as 44.7% in 12-year olds by the difference of DMFT index between 2000 and 2009 year. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both programs were associated with an increasing likelihood of experiencing no dental caries (OR=4.00, 95% CI; 3.23-4.95). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the oral health program composed of pit and fissure sealant and community water fluoridation in Hapcheon was very effective in caries prevention. The program should be expanded to other area to prevent dental caries among children.