Objectives: This study was performed in order to provide evidence-based data for the expected professional impact of dental hygienists, and to apply and disclose the comprehensive dental hygiene care process through an in-depth analysis of their scaling experience and investigation of the importance of an evidence-based scaling work performance. Methods: The data were collected from June 3, 2019 to October 3, 2019 by conducting in-depth individual interviews on 10 dental hygienists who are working in dental clinics and hospitals by region. The data were analyzed by using the grounded theory methodology, which is a field of qualitative research method. Results: Study results showed that the core category derived from the paradigm model and change process in this study was 'a process of becoming a mature professional outside practical work'. Conclusions: In this study, the participants were able to gain a sense of occupational accomplishment as dental hygienists by performing scaling based on the comprehensive dental hygiene care (CDHC) process, and to advance into professionals through continuous efforts and research in order to enhance their job competencies.

Objectives: This study is intended to provide a basic resource on the role of dental hygienists. It also intends to establish the identity of future dental hygienists by analyzing the clinical roles of currently practicing dental hygienists through the perspectives of dental hygiene students. Methods: The analysis was performed using the phenomenological method, and it involved 11 participants enrolled between November 20, 2019 and January 20, 2020. Methods: The analysis was done in the phenomenological method on total 11 participants from November 20, 2019 to January 20, 2020. Results: They were exposed to various types of learning. They did not have a sense of belonging, and they experienced the burden of self-learning. They experienced work burden beyond the legal work boundary and a lack of infection control by clinical institutions. They were not respected as professional workers, and they had poor working conditions. Their expertise was not recognized. Conclusions: This study will facilitate appropriate awareness and establish the identity of dental hygienists by critically evaluating their challenges and working conditions and presenting alternatives.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between periodontitis, obesity, and health behavior according to sex and age in Korean adults. Methods: Data on 11,032 adults aged 19-79 years were obtained from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES). We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to test for associations. Results: The final model that was adjusted for demographic characteristics and health status, showed a higher risk of periodontitis with increasing body mass index (BMI), smoking, failure to use oral care products, and no dental check up. In the sub-group analysis, only smoking was significant in the 19 to 39-year-old age groups. In the 40 to 64-year-old age group, a BMI of 30 or higher, and smoking, use of oral care products, and dental check-up were significantly associated with periodontitis. In the female group, BMI, smoking, use of oral care products, and dental check-up were significantly related to periodontitis. However, in males, only smoking was significant. Conclusions: Obesity management can be helpful for periodontal health as periodontitis prevalence in adults increased as BMI increased. For periodontal health, an oral health program should include smoking cessation and the use of oral care products and dental check up as part of obesity management.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between obesity and dental caries of Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES Ⅵ) (2013 to 2015) were used and targeted adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. For statistical analysis, the SPSS 18.0 program was used, and the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: For the general and health-related characteristics, female students (p=0.001) showed higher decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index than male students. Furthermore, DMFT showed higher tendency, as age was higher (p<0.001). Smoking (p=0.011) and drinking experience (p=0.027) revealed higher DMFT. The dental caries experience was significantly different among students who were female (p=0.033), older (p=0.001), and overweight or underweight (p=0.022). In the BMI for the general and health-related characteristics, male students had higher obesity rate than female students (p=0.003), and obese subjects had higher dental checkup in the last year (p=0.013). In multiple linear regression analysis of obesity and DMFT, the unadjusted model showed that the obesity group's DMFT was about 0.8 higher than that of the normal group (p=0.024). However, statistical significance was not shown in the adjusted models. In the logistic regression analysis of obesity and dental caries experience, the unadjusted model 1 (1.93 times), the adjusted model 2 (1.79 times), and model 3 (1.76 times) showed significantly higher dental caries experience. Conclusions: Both obesity and dental caries are related to diet habits and lifestyles and have a negative impact on adult health. Therefore, it is necessary to create a healthy social environment around the adolescent, and proper intervention through education is required to form healthy habits.

Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze the factors affecting discomfort in the oral cavity for the elderly and to provide basic data for improving oral health in the elderly. Methods: It was conducted with ethical approval, and all subjects were explained about the research method and purpose before conducting the questionnaire. The final 178 were analyzed through a self-written questionnaire. SPSS 25.0 was used for statistical analysis of the collected data, and the significance level was 0.05. Results: Dental caries was 51.7%, periodontal disease was 69.1%, and lost tooth was 71.9%.The average score of discomfort in the oral cavity was 2.62±0.96. The factors affecting discomfort in the oral cavity were found to affect discomfort in the oral cavity in groups with education, periodontal disease, and missing teeth. Conclusions: Therefore, it is necessary to proceed with the oral health program according to the educational background of the elderly. Find out how to reduce oral discomfort caused by periodontal disease. It is believed that there is a need to expand health insurance for preventive care rather than treatment.

Objectives: This study confirms the current status of visiting oral health-care services for the elderly to draw policy implications for revitalization of the visiting oral health care services in the future. Methods: First, a survey was conducted on health centers about the current status of the elderly visiting oral health-care service and how to revitalize it. Next, the number of oral hygiene services provided to the elderly was checked in the long-term care insurance system. Results: Oral health education (100%) was the most common practice in visiting oral health-care service for the elderly, and the most difficult thing in providing services was the lack of dental hygienists (38.9%). The status of oral health-care services in the long-term care insurance system for elderly revealed that the total number of service claims has been confirmed to be zero since the introduction of the system. Conclusions: Despite the existence of a system that provides elderly visiting oral health-care services, to revitalize it, the law must be amended to secure a dental hygienist as the main agent of the activity and to further take responsibility for autonomous authority and performance.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of oral hygiene education provided by dental hygienists in patients with dental implants. Methods: Data were obtained from a survey that involved 300 patients who had one or more dental implants. Based on the calculated sample size (n = 274), 300 questionnaires were used for further analyses. Results: The patients who received oral hygiene education had higher levels of satisfaction after dental implant surgery (p<0.05). Patients who had repeated educational sessions, in the form of interactive or hands-on sessions or lectures, with continuous feedback had higher scores for oral hygiene maintenance (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study indicated that patients who received oral hygiene education, in the form of interactive or hands-on sessions or lectures, with continuous post-educational feedback were better at maintaining oral hygiene.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual condition of bullying in the workplace by dental hygienists and to determine whether workplace bullying affects job performance. Methods: Data were collected from 308 clinical dental hygienists working in dental medical institutions located in the whole country. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA were performed using SPSS 23.0 for analysis. Results: First, the main targets of bullying in the workplace were senior dental hygienists (53.6%) and dentists (24.7%). Second, the number of turnovers was a significant influence on bullying and job performance according to general characteristics. Finally, the 'improper work environment' among the subfactors of workplace bullying had a negative effect on 'job performance' (p<0.001). Conclusions: Based on the results of the study, we reviewed the actual condition of bullying in the workplace and whether bullying in the workplace affects job performance in the workforce problem of dental hygienists. In this regard, the importance of prevention of bullying in the workplace was discussed.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the importance of perception and communication ability among dental hygienists and provide evidence for the activation of communication education necessary to improve communication ability required in the actual dental field. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 227 members attending conservative education in 2020. Results: The following are mean scores of each area of communication according to importance: message conversion ability, 3.82 points; interpretation ability, 3.74 points; goal setting ability, 3.51 points; self-expression ability, 3.48 points; and role performance ability, 3.46 points. The ability was interpreted in the following order: interpretation ability, 3.61 points; message conversion ability, 3.56 points; role performance ability, 3.43 points; self-expression ability, 3.32 points; and goal setting ability, 3.10 points. The highest score in terms of importance of awareness was 4.27 points, the highest among interpretive abilities, that is, to 'listen carefully to know what the other person intends to say.' When it comes to communication skills, the highest score was 4.12 points for 'a nod or a facial expression of understanding while listening to each other.' Conclusions: In devel oping a training program related to communication for dental hygienists at the clinical site, the curriculum reflecting seven items that needs improvement should be revised; and through this, it is expected that dental hygienists' communication skills will be improved.

Objectives: Although dental hygienists are professional workers, their job retention is short. Therefore, in order to improve job retention, the relationship between professional identity and professional self-concept was analyzed. Methods: From January 1 to April 30, 2020, 155 dental hygienists were examined. For data analysis, multiple regression analysis was conducted to confirm the effects of professional identity and professional self-concept on job retention. Results: The dental hygienist's professional self-concept was significantly higher in the team manager than in the staff, but the professional identity was not significantly different. Dental hygienists' professional identity, professional self-concept, and job retention were all positively correlated (p<0.05). As a factor influencing dental hygienist's job retention, the self-concept of the profession had a significant effect, but the identity of the profession did not. Conclusions: Since the professional self-concept has a positive effect on maintaining the profession of dental hygienists, it is necessary to make efforts to improve the professional self-concept in order to increase the job retention.