2026, Vol.26, No.4

Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 1.22

pISSN : 2287-1705 / eISSN : 2288-2294
https://journal.kci.go.kr/jksdh

Objectives: In this review, the dual legal framework governing the radiographic practicum in Korean dental hygiene education is analyzed, a quantitative safety range is derived for intersubject practice, and policy directions are proposed. Methods: A critical narrative review was performed by integrating an analysis of Korean statutes, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) dosimetric framework, the 2024 Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) diagnostic reference level guidelines, and international comparisons. Results: Student radiography of human subjects is restricted, not by an explicit statute, but by an administrative interpretation combining the Medical Service Technologists Act and the Nuclear Safety Act. The 2024 Enforcement Rule Appendix 1 widens this regulatory gap by phasing in a mandatory clinical practicum, while practical restrictions on student radiography remain unchanged. Using published dose-area product-to-effective-dose conversion coefficients with the 2024 KDCA diagnostic reference levels, the estimated effective dose for one adult mandibular molar periapical exposure was 3–6 μSv; within an operational reference level of 100 μSv/year (10% of the public limit), approximately 20 exposures per student per year fall within a quantitatively reviewable range. Mannequin and virtual reality simulators retain inherent limitations that intersubject practice may complement. Conclusions: Within the conservative operational benchmark proposed here, quantitative guidelines permitting controlled intersubject practice may support the minimum clinical competency of new dental hygienists, informing future discussion on statutory amendments and curricular integration.

Objectives: This study aimed to systematically review the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding infection control among clinical dental hygienists in Korea. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted across domestic and international databases (including Public MEDLINE [PubMed] and Regional Information Sharing Systems [RISS]) for studies published up to May 1, 2026. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 36 studies were selected. Study quality was evaluated using a critical review form. To ensure comparability, the extracted scores were standardized using a 5-point Likert scale, and practice domains were categorized based on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Results: Knowledge and awareness levels showed an upward trend. Overall practice levels were reported to be relatively higher following the introduction of the dental healthcare accreditation system in 2017. However, significant variations persisted across specific practice domains. Notably, medical waste management yielded the highest mean scores (3.83–4.75). Conversely, practitioner self-protection indicators, including check-up and vaccination scores (2.85–3.00) and apron application rates (1.1–45.1%), showed the lowest levels, revealing a marked imbalance in infection control implementation. Conclusions: Despite high levels of knowledge regarding infection control, self-protection practices among dental hygienists remain inadequate. To overcome the limitations of the current system, motivation-centric education should be coupled with robust institutional and financial support frameworks such as dental infection prevention and control fees.

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.