Effectiveness of oral health offices in special schools: A study of two special schools in Jeonju

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the differences in oral health office systems related to the dental examina- tion results of two institutions in Jeonju, Korea Materials and Methods: This study analyzed dental examination data from Dongamchadol school and Eunhwa school, provided by the Jeonju Public Health Center. The variables included the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index, decayed, missing, and filled (DMF) rate, decayed teeth (DT) rate, missing teeth (MT) rate, and filled teeth (FT) rate. Longitudinal changes and a cross-sectional analysis were performed to compare dental health patterns between Dongamchadol and Eunhwa school. Results: The DT, MT, and FT rates at Dongamchadol school remained relatively stable from middle 2019 to middle 2023, with a consistently low DMFT index and DMF rate over time. In contrast, Eunhwa school showed fluctua- tions in all rates with reductions in the DMFT index and DMF rate. When comparing the two schools, the DMFT index was consistently higher at Eunhwa school, while DMF rate experienced a decline, ultimately dropping below that of Dongamchadol school by middle 2023. Conclusion: Continuous management through consistent oral health care policies seems essential for effective oral health management in special schools