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ISSN : 0376-4672
The division of the Korean Peninsula has produced long-standing disparities in health-care systems, yet no na tionwide oral health survey of the North Korean population is publicly available. This narrative review synthe sized national-level estimates from international organizations, limited studies among children inside North Ko rea, literature on the North Korean oral health-care system and its marketization, and studies of clinical indices and post-resettlement dental-care access among North Korean refugees, to examine the structural vulnerability of North Korean oral health care and the oral health inequalities that persist after resettlement. Although North Korea officially espouses free medical care and preventive medicine, shortages of medical resources, limited ac cess to restorative and prosthetic treatment, and the expansion of informal fee-based care have been reported. Among refugees, older age groups had a greater proportion of missing teeth within the DMFT index, whereas the filled-teeth component remained low; extensive alveolar bone loss and reduced oral health-related quality of life were also reported. Children from refugee families showed more untreated caries and unmet dental-care needs than South Korean children. After resettlement, cost burden, limited understanding of the health-care system, and low oral health literacy were reported as barriers to dental care. Policy for North Korean refugees should there fore move beyond one-time treatment support toward standardized initial screening, early treatment of untreated caries and periodontal disease, tailored education to improve oral health literacy, sustained linkage for high-cost treatment, and life-course management, providing a basis for oral health policy in preparation for possible inter Korean health-care exchange and cooperation. (J Korean Dent Assoc 2026; 64(8): 265-274)
Purpose: This mixed-methods study aimed to investigate the oral health status of elderly residents in long-term care facilities and to explore caregivers' experiences and educational needs regarding oral care. Materials and Methods: Quantitative data were collected from 132 elderly residents in four facilities in Seoul through oral examinations and surveys. Differences in oral health indicators across long-term care grades were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured in depth interviews as an exploratory qualitative inquiry. Results: The mean number of remaining teeth was 12.58±9.74. Approximately 54.7% of residents required partial or full assistance with toothbrushing. High prevalence rates were observed for masticatory discomfort (36.5%), food de bris retention (50.4%), and dementia (73.9%). Qualitatively, caregivers identified oral care as their most burdensome task due to safety risks. Caregivers reported limited proficiency and insufficient access to oral hygiene aids appliance. They expressed a strong desire for practical, skill-based training, particularly regarding uncooperative residents, and showed positive perceptions toward VR-based simulation as a potential training modality. Conclusion: The oral health of institutionalized elderly is significantly poor, yet caregivers face challenges in pro viding adequate care. Although subjective oral health needs and the demand for assistance increased with care dependency, objective hygiene outcomes did not differ by grade, suggesting that oral care provision may not be sufficiently tailored to functional status. Systematic, skill-based education programs for caregivers and establish ment of professional dental referral systems within long-term care settings are needed. (J Korean Dent Assoc 2026; 64(8): 275-284)
Purpose: This retrospective study investigated the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of lower lip mucocele at a single institution, focusing on the effectiveness of concomitant minor salivary gland removal in preventing recurrence. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 19 patients who underwent surgery for lower lip mucocele at Inje University Busan Paik Hospital between 2011 and 2025 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into two groups: 1) Group A (n = 16) achieved complete resolution with a single procedure including concomitant excision of the mucocele and the underlying minor salivary gland(s) and 2) Group B (n = 3) experienced recur rence after primary excision at our institution and subsequently underwent re-operation with additional minor salivary gland removal. Among the 19 patients, 4 (Cases 1, 6, 8, and 9) had previously been treated at outside facilities before referral. Results: The cohort comprised 12 males and 7 females, with a mean age of 22.1 years (range: 8–59 years). All 16 patients in Group A achieved resolution with a single operation. In Group B, recurrence developed within 2–5 weeks after primary excision; however, re-operation with additional minor salivary gland removal achieved reso lution in all 3 patients. One patient developed transient commissure hypoesthesia, which partially recovered at final follow-up. Conclusion: Concomitant excision of the mucocele and the underlying minor salivary gland(s) is effective in pre venting recurrence. When recurrence occurs, additional gland removal achieves resolution. Minor salivary gland removal should be incorporated as a standard component of the surgical protocol for lower lip mucocele. (J Ko rean Dent Assoc 2026; 64(8): 285-292)
This report describes periodontal ligament (PDL)–preserving autotransplantation combined with graft-free crestal sinus membrane elevation in a posterior maxillary site with limited residual bone height. A 28-year-old woman with a non-restorable maxillary first molar and approximately 3 mm of residual crestal bone height underwent autotransplantation of a mature third molar with simultaneous graft-free sinus membrane elevation. Approxi mately nine years of follow-up demonstrated stable function with preservation of the PDL space, no ankylosis or pathologic root resorption, and progressive bone formation within the sinus-associated void. PDL-preserving autotransplantation with graft-free sinus membrane elevation may represent a viable biologically based alterna tive in selected posterior maxillary cases. (J Korean Dent Assoc 2026; 64(8): 293-299)
