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.

Characteristics of hard seltzer and their effect on the tooth surface

Seo-Yoon Cho , Ji-Eun Kim , Ki-Ho Chung , Choong-Ho Choi

Abstract : Objectives: To investigate the effect of commercially available hard seltzer on the tooth enamel surface. Methods: Some commercially available hard seltzer were purchased at the market and the characteristics of the beverages were surveyed. Subsequently, Cloud hard seltzer mango was selected for the hard seltzer group (group 4), Jeju Samdasoo for the mineral water group (group 1), Coca-Cola for the cola group (group 2), and Cloud Original for the beer group (group 3). The specimens were immersed in the experimental beverage for 30 minutes, then the surface microhardness and surface condition of the specimens were evaluated. Results: The average pH of the twelve types of hard seltzer in this study were 3.51±0.01 (before stirring) and 3.46±0.01 (after stirring). The pH of experimental beverage were 7.92±0.03 (group 1), 2.55±0.01 (group 2), 4.41±0.01 (group 3), and 3.31±0.01 (group 4). Paired t-test of the surface microhardness of enamel before and after beverage immersion found no significant difference in group 1 (P>0.05), but a significant difference was observed in groups 2, 3, and 4 (P

Risk factors for dental caries and severe periodontitis in Korean adults: analysis with the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data

Se-Hwan Jung

Abstract : Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors for dental caries and severe periodontitis using the data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for improving the lifestyle risk assessment and oral health education in national adult dental examination program. Methods: The participants included 7,301 adults aged 19-59 years for dental caries analysis and 4,886 adults aged 40-59 years for severe periodontitis analysis. Self-care of oral hygiene (brushing teeth frequency, brushing teeth before bed, use of interdental brush or floss), sugar intake, and smoking were selected as risk factors related to oral health. The other risk factors included socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, region, household income, education), dental care utilization (dental examination, unmet dental needs), and systematic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol). The association between the target diseases and risk factors was analyzed using a complex samples logistic regression model. Results: Dental caries was negatively associated with brushing teeth frequency, interdental brushing or flossing, sugar intake, and age; and positively associated with smoking and oral examination. Severe periodontitis was positively associated with smoking, diabetes, age, and region (eup/myeon). Gender (male), household income (low), and unmet dental care (yes) were positively associated with dental caries or severe periodontitis. Conclusions: It was possible to obtain evidence of lifestyle factors (self-care oral hygiene, sugar intake, smoking) affecting the target disease (dental caries or periodontal disease) for the national adult dental examination program. However, there were limitations in estimating causality as this was a cross-sectional study, and the explanatory power of the risk model was low. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a cohort study of the adult dental examination program to obtain a higher level of evidence on the risk factors of the target diseases.

Dental caries incidence in permanent teeth of 12-year-old children in Korea

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

Abstract : Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze dental caries incidence in the permanent teeth of 12-year-old children.Methods: This study used the raw data from the 2015 Korean children’s oral health survey. Participants of the research were 12-year-old children in their first year of middle school. A total of 27,291 people participated in the questionnaire and oral examination. Statistical analysis was performed using complex samples frequency analysis and contingency coefficient phi (φ).Results: Dental caries predominately developed symmetrically with a higher tendency for left-right symmetry than for maxillary-mandibular symmetry in the mouth. The incidence of dental caries between adjacent teeth had a statistically significant correlation and was highest in the first and second premolars.Conclusions: Information on symmetry in the development of dental caries and the association of dental caries incidence between adjacent teeth of 12-year-old children should be actively utilized when establishing evidence-based dental caries management plans.

Embracing AI in research: ethical considerations and the future of preventive dentistry

Experience, educational needs and perception of dentine hypersensitivity of dental hygienists

Ji-Eun Noh , Hyun-Sook Bae

Abstract : Objectives: This study investigates dental hygienists’ experience, education, and awareness of dentin hypersensitivity. Its purpose is to provide a basis for the development of preventive procedures and educational materials for dentin hypersensitivity.Methods: After distributing the questionnaire, Oral health characteristics of dental hygienists and the general public were investigated. In addition, the experience of dentin hypersensitivity according to general characteristics and the need for education were confirmed. The collected data were analyzed by frequency analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, unpaired t-test, and one-way ANOVA.Results: There was no difference in the experience of dentin hypersensitivity according to oral health-related or general characteristics in the dental hygienist group. In terms of oral health, there was a difference in educational requirements for dentin hypersensitivity for ‘family support for oral health’.Conclusions: The experience of dentin hypersensitivity in this study can be used as data for the development of a Korean dentin hypersensitivity experience questionnaire. The educational requirements and perception of dentine hypersensitivity will help develop educational materials from the patient’s perspective. Moreover, they will be essential for practical education on dentine hypersensitivity in dental hygiene and educational processes.

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.

Corrigendum: analysis of inequality trends in self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life of adults according to household income level using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Applying research findings in practical settings