This study aimed to investigate the association between healthy lifestyle (HLS; i.e., diet quality, physical activity, normal weight) and periodontal diseases in Korean adults. Studying this association may help inform future intervention programs aimed at preventing the development of periodontal diseases. Raw data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII (2016–2018) were used. Data from 12,689 adults aged 19 years and over who had a periodontal examination were analyzed. The associations between HLS and periodontal diseases were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression after adjusting for demographic and health factors as covariates. We found that each of the HLS (diet quality, physical activity, normal body weight) practices was significantly associated with periodontal diseases (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.13–1.55; OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04–1.30; OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14–1.40, respectively). In particular, having poor HLS practices was identified as a risk factor for periodontal diseases (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10–2.15). HLS was associated with periodontal diseases. Thus, in addition to improving oral hygiene—the primary focus in the past—improving HLS should be emphasized for patients with periodontal diseases.

This study aimed to identify the associated factors for protective behaviors for dental radiation exposure (PBDRE) among dental hygienists using the health belief model (HBM). The HBM, which is composed of perceived susceptibility, perceived seriousness, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action, explains preventive behavior. In this study, self-efficacy and modifying factors were additionally applied to the HBM. The subjects of the study were 204 dental hygienists who were working at hospitals or clinics in Korea. An online survey was conducted to measure PBDRE-related factors based on the HBM and self-efficacy. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Regarding modifying factors, performance was found to be high when protection facilities were sufficient (β = 0.24, p < 0.001) and low when radiation education was not received (β = −0.16, p < 0.05). Among the HBM factors, cues to action for PBDRE (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) was the most influential factor in the performance of PBDRE, and the effect of its perceived benefits on radiation exposure was also high (β = 0.17, p < 0.001). Regarding the performance of PBDRE according to the HBM, providing education programs on protection can stimulate appropriate cues to action to perform PBDRE. In addition, if the benefits of PBDRE are highlighted, the performance of PBDRE by dental hygienists is increased.

Food security is important for human health and quality of life. This study investigated the association between food security and the number of remaining teeth in Korean adults. Raw data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII (2016–2018) were analyzed, including data from 13,199 adults aged 19 years or older. The associations between food security and number of teeth were assessed using multiple multinomial logistic regression models after adjusting for demographic and health factors as covariates. In the model adjusted for all socioeconomic, medical, and behavior variables, the odds ratio of tooth loss (16–20 teeth) was 3.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.56–9.21) in the group of people that reported often feeling insecurity regarding various food groups compared to those who reported feeling food security. The results of this study demonstrated an association between food security and the number of remaining teeth in Korean adults. Therefore, food security is essential for improving lifelong oral health.

Su-Yeon Hwang, Jung-Eun Park. J Korean Acad Oral Health 2023;47:26-31. https://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2023.47.1.26

Objectives: This narrative review examined research trends in artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for oral health education and counseling, with a particular focus on differences between Korean and international studies in their progress toward clinical application. Methods: International studies were searched in PubMed and Web of Science, and Korean studies in RISS, KCI, and DBpia, with the search limited to publications from 2019 onward. Of the 63 eligible international studies, 12 were purposively sampled to balance dental subspecialty and country of origin, with all studies reporting user or clinical outcomes retained; both Korean studies meeting the criteria were included. The 14 studies were categorized into three translational stages: development, performance evaluation, and effectiveness validation. Results: International studies spanned all three stages and included randomized controlled trials that assessed clinical and behavioral outcomes in patients. In contrast, the Korean studies remained at the development stage, with no assessment of response quality and no effectiveness validation involving actual users. However, many international studies were also preliminary or small in scale, indicating that widespread clinical adoption has not yet been achieved. Conclusions: A pronounced gap exists between Korean and international research in the clinical translation of AI chatbots for oral health education and counseling. To bridge this gap, Korean research should move beyond development toward user-centered evaluation and effectiveness validation, supported by the construction of Korean-language datasets, standardized assessment metrics, and multidisciplinary collaboration involving dental hygienists.