Chewing exercises have been applied in clinical settings to improve the occlusal force and function of the masseter muscle in elderly individuals. However, the clinical relevance and effects of chewing exercises are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of bilateral chewing exercises on the occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness in community‐dwelling Koreans aged 65 years. Forty community‐dwelling healthy elderly individuals were enrolled in this study. They were assigned to the experimental or the control group. The experimental group performed chewing exercises using medical equipment developed to facilitate such exercises. The chewing exercises were divided into isometric and isotonic types and were performed for 20 min/d, 5 days/wk, for 6 weeks. The control group did not perform any chewing exercises. The outcome measures were occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness, which were evaluated using an occlusometer and ultrasound device, respectively. A paired t test and an independent t test were used to evaluate the training effects. Within‐group comparisons showed that occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness improved significantly in the experimental group (P < .001 for both), while the control group showed no significant improvements (P = .098 and .130). Between‐group comparisons showed that the experimental group had a greater increase in occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness (P < .05 for both) compared to the control group. These results suggest that chewing exercises are effective in improving occlusal force and masseter muscle thickness in healthy elderly individuals.

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Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the antibacterial effect of 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate solution (CGS) against oral microorganism and to confirm contamination of personal protective equipment and environment of dental clinic by bacterial aerosol during ultrasonic scaling. Methods: Scaling was performed by a dental hygienist after 0.1% CGS pre-rinse to a total of 18 healthy subjects without oral inflammation. Samples were taken from personal protective equipment and environment to confirm contamination by bacterial aerosol. Results: The most contaminated area with bacterial aerosol was the dental hole towel of patient and followed by the chest, cap, gloves, and dental apron of personal protective equipment. The areas with high CGS pre-rinse effect after scaling were cap, gloves, ultrasonic scaler handle, and dental hole towel. Conclusions: 0.1% CGS pre-rinse is an effective method to consistently reduce the risk of periodontitis and contamination by bacterial aerosol in dental treatment including scaling.

This study was conducted in order to assess the cognition and the practice of infection control among dental hygienists, as well as to investigate factors influencing their practice of infection control. Between July 2011 to August 2011, 216 dental hygienists working in the Busan and South Gyeongsang Province region were included as subjects of the survey research. The average of the cognition was 4.36 ± 0.44. The order was as follows (descending): managements of medical wastes, personal protective equipments, disinfection and sterilization of instrument, managements of environments, and hand washing. The average of the practicing was 4.00 ± 0.52. The order was as follows (descending): management of medical wastes, disinfection and sterilization of instrument, personal protective equipments, hand washing, and managements of environments. Factors influencing the actual practice of infection control were included the followings: the awareness of infection control, the workload of dental hygienists, numbers of dentists, and the presence of infection control manuals in the clinic. Based on this study, to improve dental hygienists' level of practicing infection control.