A qualitative study to understand the perception and the need for preventive dental services among dental professionals / 대한구강보건학회지

ABSTRACT

Objectives@#This study aims to understand the perceptions regarding preventive dental services among dental professionals. @*Methods@#In-depth interviews were conducted with three groups of dental professionals―dentists, dental hygienists, and dental hygienists that specialized in preventive service―who were selected using a convenience sampling method. @*Results@#First, there was limited awareness among dentists regarding the need for preventive care, because of the treatment-oriented philosophy and scarcity of preventive care success models. Second, dental hygienists commented that there was a lack of the person in charge and systematic process for preventive services. It would not help when they decided to change working place even though they had high anxiety working for preventive care. However, both these professionals agreed that preventive treatment is important as the core of care and that it was important to develop various improvement methods to promote preventive services. @*Conclusions@#To activate preventive services in dental clinics, it is essential to improve the operating system and encourage dental professionals to realize the importance of preventive services.