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KMID : 0355820200410010075
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Korean Journal of Oral Anatomy
2020 Volume.41 No. 1 p.75 ~ p.83
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Analysis of the dental caries experience in North Korean defectors
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Lee Sang-Gil
Park Young-Seok
Lee Seung-Pyo
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Abstract
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Things have been changing all around between South Korea and North Korea since Korea was divided into two. Reconciliation has gained its way but conflicts still remain. Under these circumstances, medical and healthcare support has continued with humanitarian assistance. However, the exchange and cooperation activity is much lower in dental care than medical care. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dental caries in North Korean defectors through the analysis of dental panoramic X-rays, to compare the condition of oral health between North Koreans and South Koreans, and to propose further actions to be taken. The digital files that show the oral panoramic view of 984 North Korean defectors (average age: 33.3 years) in Hanawon (the settlement support center for North Korean Refugees) from June 3 to June 17 in 2019 were used in this study. These were interpreted by an oral radiologist. Based on the data, the individuals were classified as having healthy, decayed, fractured, missing, treated, or restored teeth; these findings were used to calculate the DMFT index. Data from young adults showed that the DMFT index score of North Korean defectors was much lower than that of South Koreans, while the scores were similar for middle-aged individuals. The DMFT index score of North Korean defectors’ increased with age. The score of the DT (decayed tooth) index score in permanent teeth increased with age in North Korean defectors, which is opposite to that of South Koreans. The MT (missing tooth) index score naturally increased for both with age, but the increase was much higher in North Koreans than in South Koreans. In contrast, the FT (filling tooth) index score of North Koreans was greatly lower than that of South Koreans. The FT index score of North Koreans was only one eighth of that of South Koreans in young adults aged 25?34 years. In seniors, which had the smallest difference, the amount was one three. Based on the results, the conclusions about the predicted oral status of North Koreans are as follows. (1) The DMFT index score for young adults was fair; however, there were a lot of untreated teeth. (2) Oral health status rapidly worsened in the middle age, which was shown as high MT rate and low FT rate. (3) Seniors had similar score patterns as middle-aged individuals. (4) It can be proposed that at all ages approaches to make high FT index as well as to make the low MT index is needed. This activity should be started from the senior group.
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KEYWORD
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North Korean defectors, Dental caries, Oral health, Analysis of status
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