This study intends to improve the radiation safety management and the recognition for handling radiation using structured questionnaires to dental hygienists working at Jeollabuk-do from September 1 to October 31 in 2014. As a result, 63% of respondents have not received education for radiation safety management. Moreover, the practical degree for radiation safety management was 2.58±1.11, while the degree of knowledge was 3.74±0.83 of total 5.0. The results of insecurity for radiation danger were high as 3.88±0.92, and insecurity for fetus during pregnancy shows the highest value as 4.43±0.71. From the results of statistical significance level, the knowledge degree of radiation safety management is affected by total numbers of radiograpy for a day (p＜0.05), and the practical degree of radiation safety management is affected by age group, academic background, monthly income, continuous service year, practice area, present position, and status of radiography in present (p＜0.05). In addition, the knowledge degree of radiation safety management have a negative correlation (r=-0.232) with the practical degree, but have a positive correlation (r=0.262) with the insecurity for radiation danger. The high knowledge degree of radiation safety management (=0.252, p＜0.001) and the short radiography work period (=-0.341, p＜0.05) were the influential factors to the insecurity for radiation danger. Consequently, countermeasures are necessary to encourage dental hygienists to put their radiation safety management knowledge into the practice and to reduce the insecurity degree for radiation danger. Furthermore, it is important to prevent psychological and physical risks by radiation exposure through the improvement of radiation safety management level and recognition for handling radiation to improve medical environment.

We investigated the gender-specific association between average volume of alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and periodontitis using representative nationwide data. In total, we included 3,549 men and 4,810 women, aged 19 years and older, who participated in the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey performed in 2013∼2014. According to the average volume of alcohol consumption, study participants were grouped as follows: mild drinkers (0.1∼2.0 drinks/day in men and 0.1∼1.0 drink/day in women), moderate drinkers (2.1∼4.0 drinks/day in men and 1.1∼2.0 drinks/day in women), and heavy drinkers (＞4.0 drinks/day in men and ＞2.0 drinks/day in women). Additionally, binge drinking was categorized as never (no binge drinking), rarely (＜1 time/month), occasionally (1 time/month), frequently (1 time/week), and always (almost every day/week). Periodontitis was defined as a community periodontal index equal to code 3 or greater. In men, after controlling for covariates, the association between average volume of alcohol consumption and periodontitis showed a J-shaped curve; the risk of periodontitis was significantly higher in moderate drinkers (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01∼1.56) and heavy drinkers (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04∼1.87) than in mild drinkers. In contrast, no significant association between average volume of alcohol consumption and periodontitis was observed in women. In a fully adjusted analysis, which used 'never binge drinking' as a reference, a significant dose-response relationship between binge drinking and periodontitis was observed only in men: rarely (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.16∼2.34), occasionally (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.05∼2.16), frequently (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.07∼2.33), and always (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.56∼4.22) (p for trend=0.005). In conclusion, unhealthy drinking patterns such as moderate or heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking were significantly associated with periodontitis in men but not in women.

Objectives:The purpose of the study is to investigate the current status and radiographic safety management in Korea. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 200 dental hygienists in Jeonbuk province from September 1, 2014 and October 31, 2014. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, radiation knowledge, radiation safety management, and radiation exposure anxiety. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program. Results: Duration of clinical experience(r=0.142) and number of daily radiation shot(r=0.145) showed a positive correlation to radiation safety management, and a nrgative correlation to use of intraoral films and digital devices(r=-0.587). A logistic regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the influence on radiography knowledge. The results showed that the factors had significant influences on the age group over 41 years old(OR 7.25; 95% CI 1.30-40.43) and those who took a position above team leader (OR 0.23;. Conclusions: It is very important to have the safety management toward dental intraoral imaging and radiograpgic shot in the dental hygienists. Continuous efforts should be emphasized on radiographic safety management and behavior.