Unmet dental care needs and related factors among pregnant women: analysis based on data from 2019 Korean Community Health Survey

Ah-Young Sun , Hee-Jung Park , Jun-Hyup Lee

Abstract : Objectives: This study aims to identify the factors affecting unmet dental care needs in pregnant women in Korea, and analyze the results. Methods: The study used original data from the 2019 Community Health Survey. A total of 1,146 women who were pregnant at the time were selected as the final subjects for analysis. Complex sample logistic regression analysis was conducted to understand the factors contributing to unmet dental care needs. Results: Among the subjects, 16.3% reported experiencing unmet dental care needs. The main reasons were a lack of time, other reason (pregnancy, bother to go) and minor symptoms. This study found that age and marital status as predisposing factors, number of household members as enabling factors, and subjective oral health status, chewing difficulties, tooth brushing frequency, and subjective stress levels as need factors significantly impacted the experience of unmet dental care needs. Conclusions: Customized oral health education for pregnant women is crucial to raise awareness about its significance. Considering that pregnant women may be single-person households or face challenges in visiting the dentist alone, it is necessary to establish a medical delivery system that facilitates access to medical treatment. Furthermore, policy efforts should be directed toward reducing unmet dental care needs among pregnant women.

Comparison of oral health problems and behavior between daytime and shift workers

Min-ji Oh , Heung-Soo Lee

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to not only compare the oral health problems and behavior of daytime and shift workers but also investigate the effects of work type on oral health behavior to help improve occupational oral health policies and systems. Methods: Workers from three different workplaces in Jeollabuk-do were selected through convenience sampling. After posting a study recruitment notice, an online self-administered questionnaire (Naver form, Naver corp., Korea) was used to collect data. A total of 314 participants, including 179 daytime workers and 135 shift workers, were included in the final analysis. Results: Shift workers had a higher periodontal disease index and smoking rate compared with daytime workers (P

Classification of dental caries pattern in 12-year-old Korean adolescents by multivariate analysis

In-Ja Kim , Heung-Soo Lee , Hyo-Won Oh

Abstract : Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the pattern of dental caries in 12-year-old Korean adolescents through multivariate analysis. Methods: This study used raw data from the 2015 Korea Children’s Oral Health Survey. The study participants were 12-year-old adolescents. A total of 27,291 people participated in the questionnaire and oral test. The statistical analysis methods used were multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, and factor analysis. Results: The result was derived after analyzing the dental caries pattern of teeth and tooth surface by multi-dimensional scaling method, cluster analysis method, and factor analysis. Morphologically homologous teeth were gathered to form clusters. Caries occurrence showed a more similar caries experience pattern when the types of tooth surfaces, such as occlusal and occlusal surfaces, were the same than when they were different. Conclusions: Epidemiological data on the pattern of dental caries in 12-year-old adolescents can be used as basic data to create evidence-based dental caries management plans.

Association between oral health status and school loss in adolescents

In-Ja Kim , Dong-Yeon Lee , Hyo-Won Oh , Heung-Soo Lee

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between school loss due to dental disease and oral health status in adolescents.Methods: The study participants were 881 adolescents (453 middle and 428 high school students). Data were collected through a self-administered survey and oral examination. Chi-square test and t-test were used to analyze the association between school loss due to dental disease and oral health status, and multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing school loss.Results: Dental caries was the leading cause of school loss. School loss due to dental disease was more prevalent in the group with a higher number of carious teeth than in the group without dental caries. According to bivariate analysis, school loss due to dental disease was associated with toothache, gingival bleeding, maxillofacial trauma, and caries. When controlling demographic variables, gingival bleeding, maxillofacial trauma, and dental caries were associated with school absence. Moreover, maxillofacial trauma was associated with school absence period up to 1 year.Conclusions: Therefore, oral health status and school loss of adolescents are associated, and the importance of oral health in adolescents should be emphasized.

A retrospective study of new patients who visited Wonkwang University Dental Hospital and Pediatric Dentistry for the past 5 years and performed pulpectomy

Chungho Lee , Jiyoung Ra

Abstract : Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the individual characteristics of the children and the teeth that had performed pulpectomy for children who visited Wonkwang University Dental Hospital for 5 years and had pulpectomy performed.Methods: Age, sex, number of teeth that had performed pulpectomy and restorative treatment at the time of diagnosis were investigated, and the correlation was statistically analyzed.Results: The number of teeth had performed pulpectomy and number of teeth had performed restorative treatment were statistically significant (P

A case report of brain activity during mastication

Ji-Hye Kim , Hansol Lee , So-Yeun Kim , Sung Ho Jang , Yongmin Chang , Youn-Hee Choi

Abstract : Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate brain activity in youth during chewing gum and wood stick using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: Two participants chewed wax gums and wood stick on the rhythm of 1 Hz during MRI scanning. The task paradigm was a block design and each chewing-rest procedure was repeated five times for 30s. Results: The brain regions activated during chewing gum and wood stick were the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, supplementary motor area, thalamus cerebellum. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hippocampus, and precuneus were additionally activated by mastication of the wood stick. Brain activation induced by chewing wood stick was higher than chewing gum. Conclusions: Our results suggest that mastication contribute to cognitive improvement through brain activity, this effect is stronger during chewing wood than gum. Therefore, eating harder foods may improve cognitive function more effectively.

The regional distribution and sociodemographic characteristics of adults with Significant Tooth Loss

Jong-Im Choi , Heung-Soo Lee , Hyun-Jeong Ju , Hyo-Won Oh

Abstract : Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the applicability of the Significant Tooth Loss index as a new statistical indicator and to analyze the socio-economic factors of the participants included in the Significant Tooth Loss. Methods: This study used raw data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). The survey included 13,199 adults aged ≥19 years. The Significant Tooth Loss was defined as a group with more than a third quartile (top 1/4) of the total number of tooth loss. The Significant Tooth Loss index was defined as the mean tooth loss in the group. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the socio-economic factors of the Significant Tooth Loss, and absolute and relative differences were calculated to confirm oral health inequality. Results: Among overall tooth loss in adults, the proportion of tooth loss in the Significant Tooth Loss was 83.8%. The Significant Tooth Loss index was a useful indicator to determine oral health statistics. Socio-economic factors that were associated with significant tooth loss were age, gender, region, household income, and education. Oral health inequality was observed based on household income and education. Conclusions: The Significant Tooth Loss index should be used to measure the level of oral health. Measures to reduce tooth loss should be investigated.

A time to explore the future of prevention

Usefulness of the odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein and quantitative analysis of periodontal disease-associated bacteria as biomarkers for evaluation of improvement in periodontal status following scaling intervention

Su-Jin Park , Hyunsook Bae

Abstract : Objectives: In this study, we investigated the validity and effectiveness of biomarkers and oral microbiome analysis for evaluation of periodontal status following scaling intervention. Methods: The study included 15 participants who were selected based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Periodontal indices, including the plaque index, probing depth, modified sulcus bleeding index, and calculus index were measured to evaluate clinical periodontal status and disease progression. Pre- and post-scaling gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was obtained from 12-20 sites per patient to measure changes in the odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein (ODAM) concentration using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, pre- and post-treatment salivary samples were obtained for quantitative analysis of oral microbiome distribution. Results: All clinical parameters showed significant differences in pre- and post-scaling values and significant changes in the ODAM concentration in the GCF in patients with initial and moderate periodontitis. Quantitative analysis performed after scaling intervention revealed changes in eight oral disease-causing bacteria associated with periodontal disease, including Aggregatibacter, Porphyromonas, Tannerella, Treponema, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium. Specifically, Tannerella forsythia and Fusobacterium nucleatum (well-known major periodontal pathogens) numbers were significantly decreased following non-surgical periodontal therapy. However, no significant association was observed between changes in the salivary oral microbiota and ODAM concentration in the GCF, following treatment. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, we propose the use of ODAM protein and quantitative analysis of periodontal disease-associated bacteria as objective and quantitative biomarkers for evaluation of improvement in periodontal disease following scaling intervention.

Evaluation of toothpaste abrasivity using acrylic and spectrophotometry

Seung-Hwa Jeong , Min-Ji Byon , Eun-Joo Jun

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to develop a method for objectively evaluating toothpaste abrasivity, enabling a direct comparison between different toothpastes. Methods: Nine commercially available toothpaste variants were selected, and 8 mm thick acrylic specimens were allocated to each toothpaste treatment group (n=7). A control group without toothpaste was also included. Specimens and toothbrushes were mounted on the V8 Cross brushing machine, and toothpaste (0.05-0.1 g) was applied for 20 strokes under a 200 g load and 1 Hz speed. The surface wear was measured at an absorbance of 600 nm in a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Specimens were then photographed with a polarized light microscope, and the gray value of the worn brushed part was obtained through image analysis using Image J software. A one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post-hoc test was employed for analyzing absorbance and gray value differences among the toothpaste groups. The correlation between absorbance and gray value was assessed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: Significant differences were noted in absorbance and gray values across the toothpaste groups (P