[Objective] This study aimed to examine the occurrence of inferiority complexes among dental hygiene students with malocclusion and the influence of orthodontic treatment on the presence of these complexes.
[Participants and Methods] The subjects were dental hygiene students at the Nippon Dental University College at Niigata, in the academic year 2022; we included 55 first-year, 50 second-year, and 55 third-year students; all subjects were female. A 10-item questionnaire with items scored on a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) was administered to the students. The response rate was 100%.
[Results and Discussion] There were no significant differences in the VAS scores among the students in the three years. The group that had completed orthodontic treatment (completed treatment group) had significantly lower scores for the questions on whether they were uncomfortable showing their teeth for photographs, whether they were concerned about their dentition, and whether they had any insecurities about their dentition or mouth than the group that had not received orthodontic treatment (complex group). The group that was undergoing orthodontic treatment (treatment group) had significantly higher scores than the completed treatment group for questions on whether they were concerned about their mouth when eating in public. The treatment group found it significantly more difficult to eat hard foods than the complex group.
[Conclusion] The level of dental knowledge did not seem to be related to the inferiority complex caused by malocclusion. In addition, we found that the inferiority complex persisted during orthodontic treatment, and the completion of orthodontic treatment was a trigger for the dissolution of the complex.

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Multidisciplinary medical professionals should possess appropriate knowledge and awareness of dental health and collaborate to improve the dental health of the population.
This study aimed to clarify the actual state of dental health knowledge, awareness, and behaviors of dental hygienists, nurses, pharmacists, and nonmedical professionals.
The participants in this study included 140 adult male and female dental hygienists, nurses, pharmacists, and nonmedical professionals aged in their 20s to 60s. This study was conducted using a web-based survey of participants who provided their consent through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire concerning their knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors regarding dental health. Digital data were collected and statistically analyzed.
The results of the survey revealed that dental hygienists possessed better knowledge of the relationship between oral and systemic diseases and better toothbrushing habits than nurses, pharmacists, and non-medical professionals. Dental hygienists, nurses, and pharmacists showed greater awareness of the relationship between periodontal disease and aspiration pneumonia than non-medical professionals. Pharmacists were second only to dental hygienists in their understanding of the effects of systemic drugs on the periodontal tissues. However, approximately half of the participants, regardless of their occupation, did not undergo regular dental checkups.
This study suggested that dental hygienists should utilize their specialized knowledge of the oral cavity, actively disseminate information, and ensure multidisciplinary cooperation in future dental care.

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Owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with increase in the restrictions on on-campus training and clinical practice, dental hygiene students were compelled to receive thorough education and training regarding infection prevention. Considering the clinical role of dental hygienists in medical safety management, the curriculum of the Department of Dental Hygiene at N Junior College includes lectures on infection prevention measures, primarily in the dental treatment assistance classes. In addition, N Junior College encourages students to get vaccinated as an infection prevention measure. However, few studies have reported the change in the dental hygiene students’ knowledge, awareness, and behavior regarding infection prevention with clinical practice. This study aimed to clarify the knowledge, awareness, and behavior of dental hygiene students regarding infection prevention and examine the effects of clinical training on the infection prevention measures among them. This study demonstrated that clinical training was effective in acquiring infection prevention knowledge of dental hygiene students regarding hand disinfectants and hepatitis B virus, in addition to the lectures and practical training at college. The infection prevention awareness of dental hygiene students regarding vaccination was high regardless of their clinical training experience, and these students understood the necessity of vaccination. Furthermore, knowledge concerning the correct method of donning and doffing personal protective equipment could be acquired through clinical training; thus, clinical training was important for learning infection prevention measures.

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In recent years, the prevalence of periodontal disease has increased, and oral health behavior by patients themselves is considered important for the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease.
This study aimed to evaluate the psychological and behavioral changes in oral health behavior using a self-efficacy scale for oral health behavior and clarify its effects on periodontal disease.
The participants of the survey included 60 non-medical workers in their 20s to 60s who obliged and answered either an anonymous self-filled questionnaire survey form or a web survey using a Google form. The participants were asked to select the easiest method to use, and the content of the survey was the same for all the survey methods.
The results of this study revealed that those with low self-efficacy regarding oral health behaviors tended to have a higher risk of periodontal disease than those with high self-efficacy. Moreover, those with high self-efficacy regarding oral health behaviors practiced good oral health behaviors. Therefore, increasing self-efficacy regarding oral health behavior may improve oral health behavior and periodontal disease. Thus, it is necessary to completely understand the patients’ psychological state, increase self-efficacy, and facilitate behavioral changes in the oral health behavior when providing dental health guidance in the future.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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