성인의 구강건강관심 및 주관적 구강건강증상

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the self-rated oral health concern of adults over the age of 20 and from all over the country and their subjective oral health symptoms in a bid to provide some information on oral health policy setting for adults. Methods: The subjects in this study were 3,558 adults who voluntarily participated in a survey conducted by this researcher at the website of a company. After their answer sheets were analyzed, the following findings were given: Results: 1. 81 percent replied that they were very concerned about oral health. As to the relationship between their general characteristics and oral health concern, there were statistically significant differences in that regard according to their gender, age, purpose of seeing a dentist and occupation. 2. As for the relationship of their general characteristics to subjective awareness of oral health symptoms, there were statistically significant gaps in that aspect according to their gender, age, purpose of seeing a dentist, occupation and state of smoking. 3. In regard to the relationship between oral health concern and subjective awareness of oral health symptoms, those who were more concerned about oral health felt less subjective oral symptoms, but the difference between them and the others was not significant. The respondents who felt more symptoms of dental caries felt more symptoms of periodontal diseases as well. Conclusions: The above-mentioned findings indicate that in order to help adults promote or maintain their oral health, their concern for oral health should be stimulated by providing them with a lot of diverse information, and it seems that the development of programs that can eliminate their subjective oral symptoms of dental caries and peridontal diseases, the primary causes of tooth dysfunction, is required. (J Korean Soc Dent Hygiene 2011; 11(6):871-880)