In this study, the efficacy of the automated deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) was evaluated for the classification of dental implant systems (DISs) and the accuracy of the performance was compared against that of dental professionals using dental radiographic images collected from three dental hospitals. A total of 11,980 panoramic and periapical radiographic images with six different types of DISs were divided into training (n = 9584) and testing (n = 2396) datasets. To compare the accuracy of the trained automated DCNN with dental professionals (including six board-certified periodontists, eight periodontology residents, and 11 residents not specialized in periodontology), 180 images were randomly selected from the test dataset. The accuracy of the automated DCNN based on the AUC, Youden index, sensitivity, and specificity, were 0.954, 0.808, 0.955, and 0.853, respectively. The automated DCNN outperformed most of the participating dental professionals, including board-certified periodontists, periodontal residents, and residents not specialized in periodontology. The automated DCNN was highly effective in classifying similar shapes of different types of DISs based on dental radiographic images. Further studies are necessary to determine the efficacy and feasibility of applying an automated DCNN in clinical practice.

The aim of this study was to determine the association of periodontitis with lifestyle-related comorbidities (LCs) using data in the Korean National Health Insurance Cohort Database from 2002 to 2013. This was a retrospective study involving a large national cohort with patient samples (representing 2% of the total Korean population) stratified on the basis of sociodemographic information. Using this precisely extracted database, the correlations between LCs (cerebral infarction, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, and obesity) and periodontitis were investigated while adjusting for confounding bias. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate differences in variable factors. Among a total of 1,025,340 samples, 321,103 (31.3%) cases were diagnosed with periodontitis. Statistically significant associations were found between all LCs except myocardial infarction and periodontitis (P < 0.005). Periodontitis is significantly and positively correlated with LCs (except for myocardial infarction) after adjusting for confounding bias. In particular, lifestyle-related diseases, erectile dysfunction, and osteoporosis seem to be intimately related to periodontitis.

Dental insurance coverage has recently expanded in Korea. The number of patients diagnosed with periodontal disease (PD), and the actual number of periodontally compromised patients has increased. However, few studies have investigated the relationships between the prevalence of periodontal disease and the incidence of PD treatment, dental insurance policies, and socio-demographic factors. To determine the incidence of periodontal treatments required, the comprehensive longitudinal data of the National Health Insurance Service were used. This study evaluated changes in the incidence of periodontal treatments, using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Cohort Database. A random stratified sample of 1,025,340 Korean patients was selected from National Health Insurance database, using 1,476 multistage samplings (of sex, age, and income level) for 12 years from 2002 to 2013. Chi-square analysis, and univariate, and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate the association of socio-demographic factors with the prevalence of PD and the incidence of periodontal treatment. The incidence of periodontal treatment steadily and significantly increased, in both male and female participants, from 2002 to 2013. The increase was associated with socio-demographic factors and changes in national dental insurance policies. The incidence of periodontal treatment evaluated by age is influenced by the changes in national dental policies. These results suggest that the increase in patients diagnosed with PD reflects changes in dental policies and insurance benefits. This study confirms that national dental policies and socio-demographic factors are related to the incidence of periodontal treatments. The incidence of periodontal treatment is significantly related to the expansion of insurance coverage in South Korea.

Kweon HH, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2018 Oct;48(5):317-325. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2018.48.5.317

Lee JH, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2022 Jun;52(3):220-229. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2104080204