Background: Dental caries represents one of the most prevalent oral diseases worldwide, with Streptococcus mutans as its primary causative pathogen. Currently used oral antimicrobial agents are associated with adverse effects, including microbial resistance and disruption of normal oral microbiota, necessitating safer natural alternatives. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of allomyrinasin, a synthetic antimicrobial peptide designed based on a peptide identified in the larvae of the dynastid beetle Allomyrina dichotoma against S. mutans. Methods: Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using a disk diffusion assay, and the resulting growth inhibition areas were quantified as fold changes (%). Biofilm formation was quantitatively evaluated using crystal violet staining and measuring optical absorbance at 595 nm. Allomyrinasin was tested at 200 and 500 μg/ml, with distilled water and ListerineⓇ as negative and positive controls, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test at a significance level of α=0.05. Results: Allomyrinasin at 500 μg/ml demonstrated statistically significant growth inhibition compared to the control (p＜0.001). A dose-dependent increasing trend in inhibition area was observed (7.23±8.85 and 31.04±12.81 at 200 and 500 μg/ml, respectively). In biofilm assays, 500 μg/ml allomyrinasin significantly reduced biofilm formation (p＜0.01) and exhibited no statistically significant difference compared to ListerineⓇ. Conclusion: Allomyrinasin at 500 μg/ml exhibited dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and biofilm inhibitory effects comparable to a commercial mouthrinse, suggesting its potential as a naturally derived oral antimicrobial agent for dental caries prevention.
Background: Manual instrumentation remains essential in periodontal care despite the widespread use of ultrasonic scalers, and may increase the biomechanical load on dental hygienists. This study evaluated whether wrist taping influences calculus removal efficiency and operator working posture as reflected by joint angles during manual scaling. Methods: Thirty-five healthy licensed dental hygienists performed artificial supragingival calculus removal on a dental model under two conditions, untaped manual scaling (UMS) and taped manual scaling (TMS). The calculus removal area was quantified using standardized photography and image analysis software by calculating the percentage/area of varnish removed within a predefined region of interest. Joint angles (cervical spine, lumbar spine, elbow, and wrist) were measured using a video-based motion analysis system, with reflective markers placed on anatomical landmarks. The differences between UMS and TMS were assessed using paired t-tests. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test was used to examine region-wise variability. Statistical significance was set at p＜0.05. Results: The overall calculus removal efficiency did not differ significantly between UMS and TMS across most regions. However, calculus removal on lingual/palatal surfaces was significantly better in TMS than in UMS (14.21±4.22 vs. 12.71±4.48 mm2; p=0.005). Posture analysis indicated that lumbar flexion decreased significantly with TMS during both maxillary (104.92±14.63° vs. 108.89±15.53°; p=0.008) and mandibular scaling (97.92±11.10° vs. 102.21±11.42°; p=0.002). Elbow flexion increased significantly, approaching the ergonomic neutral range, when TMS was used for the maxilla (80.36±17.46° vs. 67.70±14.30°; p＜0.001) and the mandible (76.46±17.67° vs. 70.79±14.26°; p=0.014). No significant differences were observed in cervical flexion or wrist flexion/extension (all p＞0.05). Conclusion: Wrist taping did not compromise calculus removal. It provided ergonomic benefits by improving lumbar and elbow postures during manual scaling. Wrist taping may serve as a practical adjunct to reduce musculoskeletal load in clinical situations where manual instrumentation is unavoidable.
Background: This study aimed to identify core themes by reviewing the literature on dental hygienists’ practice in Korea over the past decade and to characterize and synthesize patterns of professional practice. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Arksey and O’Malley framework. Thirty-five peer-reviewed articles published in Korean journals between 2015 and 2024 were selected and analyzed using content analysis. Results: The “validity of the legal and institutional scope of practice” emerged as the most prominent issue. A total of 76 subcategories were synthesized into six core themes. The findings indicate that dental hygienists in Korea perform a wide range of tasks beyond the legally defined scope of practice. However, institutional constraints and low social recognition limit their professional autonomy. These results suggest gaps in education, policy, and clinical practice. Conclusion: The roles of dental hygienists in Korea are expanding in response to evolving healthcare demands; however, structural limitations persist because of insufficient institutional support. Policy-level reforms are needed to enhance professional autonomy and ensure safe practice. Such reforms include clarifying the legal scope of practice and introducing specialty certification systems.
Background: South Korea’s exam-oriented education system often limits students’ opportunities to explore career paths prior to university admission. This results in weak career identity, defined as the clarity with which individuals perceive their professional interests, abilities, and values. A lack of career identity can hinder career preparation behaviors, which involve sustained activities such as information gathering and career exploration. For dental hygiene students, expanding career opportunities have heightened interest in diverse fields, yet career preparation behaviors remain insufficient. The purpose of this study is to explore how career identity affects career preparation behaviors among dental hygiene students and to examine the connection between these two factors. Methods: A self-administered survey was conducted among 333 dental hygiene students enrolled in 3- or 4-year degree programs. Career identity and career preparation behaviors were assessed. Data analysis included frequency analysis, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression to examine differences and relationships between variables. Results: The sample consisted predominantly of female students (97.6%). Major satisfaction differed by degree program type: 3-year degree program students most frequently reported “neutral” (55.6%), while 4-year degree program students predominantly selected “satisfied” (53.2%). High employment rates were the most common reason for choosing the major. Four-year degree students showed higher career identity and preparation behaviors than three-year degree students. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship, with higher career identity associated with increased career preparation behaviors. Conclusion: Career identity plays a significant role in fostering career preparation behaviors among dental hygiene students. These findings highlight the need for career guidance strategies and programs that strengthen career identity to enhance career readiness. Future research should explore subfactors and item-specific relationships to inform tailored interventions.
Background: In this study, we investigated the associations between dental insurance-related perceptions, clinical practice factors, and job satisfaction among Korean dental hygienists, under the evolving landscape of National Health Insurance coverage and private dental insurance. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 250 dental hygienists working in dental institutions in South Korea. Based on Andersen’s behavioral model, the independent variables were classified into predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Job satisfaction items were developed with reference to the conceptual domains of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) rather than through direct application of the original OHIP-14 instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance with Duncan’s post-hoc test, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis using IBM SPSS Windows 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: Insurance-related factors were positively associated with job satisfaction. In the final hierarchical regression model, organizational support showed the strongest association with job satisfaction. Insurance education and perceived insurance expertise were also significantly associated with job satisfaction. Working in a general or tertiary hospital was negatively associated with job satisfaction compared to working in a dental clinic. Practical competency and perceived practice burden were not significant in the final model. Conclusion: Organizational support, insurance education, and perceived insurance expertise were significantly associated with job satisfaction, whereas practical competency and perceived practice burden were not significant in the final model. These findings suggest that dental institutions should provide standardized insurance guidelines, regular case-based insurance education, and structured organizational support to improve job satisfaction among dental hygienists.
Background: This study aimed to compare salivary fluoride retention following different fluoride varnish (FV) application doses in vivo to determine the optimal dosage. Methods: We conducted a crossover clinical study involving nine healthy adult participants. Two doses (0.4 g and 0.2 g) of MI VarnishTM (5% sodium fluoride, 22,600 ppm fluoride; GC Corp., Tokyo, Japan) were applied intraorally. Saliva samples were collected at baseline and at 1, 4, 20, and 72 hours post-application via a distilled-water mouth-rinse method. Salivary fluoride concentrations were measured using an ion-selective electrode. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Statistical significance was set at p＜0.05. Results: Although salivary fluoride concentrations in the 0.4 g group were 1.53 fold and 2.16 fold higher than those in the 0.2 g group at 1 and 4 hours post-application, respectively, this difference reached statistical significance only at the 4 hour mark (p＜0.05). Fluoride concentrations in both groups decreased markedly by 20 hours and returned to near-baseline levels at 72 hours. No significant differences between the groups were observed at these later time points. Conclusion: Although the higher FV dose resulted in increased short-term salivary fluoride retention, no significant differences in long-term retention were observed between the two doses. These findings suggest that a reduced FV dose (0.2 g) can adequately maintain long-term fluoride retention while minimizing unnecessary fluoride exposure.
Background: Early childhood is a period for establishing lifelong oral health, as dental caries in primary dentition can affect development and predict oral disease. In Korea, oral examinations for infants and children are included in the national health screening program; however, their utilization remains low and regionally uneven. This study aimed to examine regional disparities in oral examination rates and outcomes at the municipal (city/county/district) level. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the 2023 National Health Screening Statistical Yearbook and regional classification data from Statistics Korea. The study included infants eligible for oral examinations at 18, 30, and 42 months across 251 administrative districts nationwide. Variables included examination rates and outcomes (normal, caution, and need for further examination). Analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: The national examination rate increased from 53.6% in 2023 to 60.3% in 2024; however, regional disparities persisted. The gap was 10.8 percentage points provincially and 42.5 percentage points municipally. Rural areas showed significantly lower examination rates than urban areas (p＜0.001), and the effect sizes for regional differences were moderate to large in both 2023 (η2=0.116) and 2024 (η2=0.160). 62.9% of municipalities were below the national average. The proportion of children requiring further examination increased markedly after 42 months, from 23.7% to 43.3%, reaching 49.8% in children aged 54∼65 months. Discrepancies between examination rates and outcomes suggest potential selection bias in low-participation regions. Conclusion: Substantial regional inequalities exist in access to oral examinations and outcomes among Korean infants and children. Targeted interventions, including mobile services and community-based education focused on early intervention, are needed. Establishing a municipal-level oral health surveillance system is essential to reduce disparities and inform policy.
Background: Dental unit waterlines are a critical source of microbial contamination in dental clinics, threatening infection control through the transmission of oral pathogens. Although ozone water is recognized for its excellent antimicrobial efficacy, comprehensive studies evaluating its impact on the broader dental clinical environment remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of ozone water against representative oral microorganisms to provide foundational data for future dental infection control strategies. Methods: The bactericidal effects of ozone water were evaluated against Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus by comparing the pre- and post-treatment conditions. The antimicrobial efficacy and bacterial growth inhibition were assessed using paper-based bactericidal assays and a direct disc application method. Morphological alterations in microorganisms were visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was measured to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of various ozone concentrations. Results: Treatment with both ozone water and chlorhexidine (CHX) inhibited the growth of all three target microorganisms (S. mutans, S. aureus, and C. albicans), whereas robust bacterial growth was observed in the distilled water control group. Identical inhibitory results were obtained in the direct paper disc application assay, which showed no microbial growth in the ozone water or CHX groups. Furthermore, SEM observations confirmed a distinct reduction in microbial counts and visible damage to cell membranes. In the MIC assay, microbial growth was completely inhibited at ozone water concentrations of 1.0 ppm or higher, while growth persisted at concentrations of 0.5 ppm or below. Conclusion: Ozone water shows promising antimicrobial activity against major oral and clinical microorganisms. Under the current experimental conditions, it effectively inhibited bacterial growth at concentrations starting at 1.0 ppm, suggesting its strong potential as a foundational component of future infection control strategies in dental clinical environments.
Background: Continuing education is essential for dental hygienists to maintain professional competence and strengthen their job-related competencies. However, previous studies have primarily focused on satisfaction with continuing education programs and there have been limited analyses of their actual operational status. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the operational status of continuing education programs for dental hygienists over the past five years and to provide foundational data for future quality improvement and policy and institutional reforms. Methods: This study analyzed the operational status of on-site and online continuing education programs provided on the Korean Dental Hygienists Association website between 2021 and July 2025. This analysis included organizing institutions, years of education, instructor professions, course classification, continuing education credits, experience level, and education topics. Continuing education topics were classified as basic, clinical, social, educational, ethical, and general through consensus among the researchers. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and frequency analysis and chi-squared tests were performed. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05. Results: In on-site continuing education programs, regional branches accounted for the highest proportion at 48.5% and clinical topics accounted for the largest proportion at 70.8% and 68.9% in on-site and online continuing education programs, respectively. Overall, both the on-site and online continuing education programs showed a clinically oriented operational pattern. Conclusion: Over the past five years, continuing education programs for dental hygienists have shown a clinically oriented operational pattern in both on-site and online education. These findings suggest the need to consider a more balanced composition of continuing education topics that reflects common core competencies and changes in the healthcare environment.
Background: This study examined the associations of academic achievement and school stress with oral health behaviors among adolescents to inform school-based oral health education and preventive interventions implemented by dental hygienists. Methods: Using data from the 21st Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey, this cross-sectional study included 54,170 middle and high school students. Oral health behaviors were defined as brushing teeth ≥3 times daily, brushing teeth before bedtime, and visiting a dentist within the past 12 months. The analyses adjusted for sex, grade level, household economic status, smoking history, and alcohol consumption as confounding variables. Data were analyzed using the Rao–Scott χ2 test and complex sample logistic regression. Results: Academic achievement was significantly associated with all evaluated oral health behaviors (p＜0.001). Students with high academic achievement were more likely to brush their teeth ≥3 times daily (odd ratio [OR]=1.25), brush their teeth before bedtime (OR=1.14), and visit a dentist within the past 12 months (OR=1.52) compared with those demonstrating low academic achievement. School stress was significantly associated only with brushing teeth before bedtime; specifically, high levels of school stress correlated with a reduced likelihood of this behavior (OR=0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.77∼0.87). Conclusion: Academic achievement served as a critical factor associated with all measured oral health behaviors, whereas school stress correlated selectively with brushing teeth before bedtime. These findings highlight the need for tailored, school-based oral health education and preventive interventions that account for students’ school-related characteristics.
Background: Masticatory muscles exhibit high metabolic activity due to their continuous contraction. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species in the masticatory muscles has been associated with muscle atrophy, temporomandibular disorders and bruxism. Ginkgo biloba leaf ethanol extract (GLE) has been reported to suppress oxidative stress by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway, however, no studies have examined whether it can regulate antioxidant activity by itself without external stimuli. The aim of this study was to investigate whether GLE can induce antioxidant activity by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway without external oxidative stress stimulation in C2C12 myoblasts and to propose the potential of GLE as a functional material for the prevention of oxidative damage and pathological symptoms in masticatory muscles. Methods: C2C12 myoblasts were treated with GLE at concentrations of 0∼50 μg/ml for 24 hours. GLE-induced changes in cell viability were evaluated using an MTT assay. The effects of GLE on antioxidant-related responses without external stimulation were assessed based on the protein expression levels of Nrf2, phosphorylated Nrf2 (p-Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), and HO-1 by western blot analysis. Results: GLE did not significantly affect the proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts in the tested concentration ranges. As the concentration of GLE increased, GLE significantly decreased the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and Keap1, while significantly increasing the expression levels of p-Nrf2 and HO-1 in C2C12 myoblasts without external stimulation, suggesting possible modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Conclusion: GLE may modulate the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, which plays a key role in antioxidant defense, in C2C12 myoblasts. Therefore, GLE has potential as a functional material for the prevention and improvement of oxidative damage and pathological symptoms that may occur in masticatory muscles.
Background: This study aimed to assess the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) based on oral health-related behaviors and oral health status among older adults in Gangneung-si. Methods: A total of 77 adults aged 65 years or older in Gangneung-si who voluntarily participated in an oral health care program were included. GOHAI was administered as a self-reported questionnaire to evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). GOHAI consists of 12 items rated on a six-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better oral health and higher QoL. Assessment items included general characteristics, systemic disease, oral health-related behaviors, and tooth and periodontal status. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to assess normality prior to comparing GOHAI scores across independent variables. Depending on normality results, differences in mean scores were analyzed using the independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, or the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: The highest-scoring item was “Did your teeth or dentures bother you when you wanted to speak?”, whereas the lowest-scoring item was “Were you pleased or happy looking at your teeth, gums, or dentures?” A significant difference was observed according to the number of remaining teeth; participants with 20 or more teeth had higher GOHAI scores (41.86±5.22) than those with 19 or fewer teeth (38.33±3.83; p=0.046). Conclusion: Significant differences in GOHAI scores were found in relation to systemic disease and the number of remaining teeth. These findings can support the development of strategies and policies to improve OHRQoL in older adults in Gangneung-si.
Background: Self-rated oral health is a key indicator of clinical oral conditions and psychosocial factors. Allergic rhinitis, a prevalent chronic respiratory condition, may influence oral health through physiological and behavioral mechanisms. However, its effect on the perceived oral health of adults remain underexplored. This study examined the association between allergic rhinitis and self-rated oral health in a nationally representative Korean adult sample. Methods: Data from the 7th to 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2016∼2019, 2022) were analyzed, excluding 2020∼2021 (coronavirus disease 2019-related data disruptions). The study included 24,056 adults, aged ≥19 years. Allergic rhinitis status was defined based on self-reported diagnoses corroborated by objective testing. Self-rated oral health was dichotomized as “good” or “poor”. Complex sample cross-tabulations and logistic regression analyses were conducted after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Results: Of the participants, 17.2% reported having allergic rhinitis and 34.6% rated their oral health as poor. A greater proportion of adults with allergic rhinitis reported poor self-rated oral health (52.1%) than those without allergic rhinitis. In the unadjusted model, allergic rhinitis was significantly associated with poor self-rated oral health (odds ratio [OR] 1.423; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.307∼1.549; p＜0.001). This association remained significant after adjustment (OR 1.122; 95% CI 1.011∼1.245; p=0.031). Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis is associated with an increased likelihood of poor self-rated oral health among Korean adults. These findings highlight the need for integrated health strategies that consider chronic respiratory conditions when developing oral health promotion programs.
Background: As a multidisciplinary field, dental hygiene has seen the emergence of novel research topics that have reshaped its scholarly landscape during the pandemic. This study investigated the evolution of research themes and knowledge structures in the Journal of Dental Hygiene Science (JDHS) by comparing the pre-COVID-19 (2015∼2019) and post-COVID-19 (2020∼2024) periods. Methods: A total of 499 articles (319 from 2015∼2019 and 180 from 2020∼2024) published in JDHS were analyzed. Using NetMiner 5.0, meaningful keywords were extracted from titles, abstracts, and author keywords. Term frequency, term frequency-inverse document frequency, degree centrality, and betweenness centrality were examined. Topic modeling was conducted using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation algorithm. Results: During 2015∼2019, “student,” “stress,” “health,” and “tooth” showed high degree centrality, with eight topics identified: education and clinical practice satisfaction, oral health behaviors, job stress, teeth and oral tissues, professional identity, core competencies, preventive research, and factor analysis. In 2020∼2024, “tooth,” “work,” and “surface” demonstrated the highest degree centrality, with five reconfigured topics: dental hygienist competencies, infection control, biofilm and material-related experimental research, and oral health behaviors. Notably, “COVID-19,” “infection,” “control,” and “hand hygiene” emerged as an independent topic cluster. Across both periods, “health” and “dental hygienist” maintained high betweenness centrality, serving as bridging concepts across research domains. Conclusion: Over the past decade, JDHS research has shifted from an education- and psychology-oriented focus to clinical and experimental studies, with infection control emerging as an independent research theme after COVID-19. However, internationally prominent topics such as teledentistry and digital dentistry remain underrepresented, suggesting the need for expanded research in these emerging areas. This study provides quantitative evidence of structural changes in Korean dental hygiene research, offering insights to guide future research directions and journal development strategies.
Background: Sodium butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by anaerobic bacteria within periodontal pockets, is traditionally regarded as an anti-inflammatory metabolite in the gut. However, its biological functions in the periodontal environment, particularly during Porphyromonas gingivalis infection, remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate effects of sodium butyrate on inflammatory and bone-regulating responses in various oral cell types. Methods: Immortalized human oral keratinocytes (IHOKs), Terasaki Human Peripheral blood leukemia (THP)-1 macrophages, and osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) were treated with various sodium-butyrate concentrations, with or without P. gingivalis infection. Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assays (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide). Inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-8, IL-22, and IL-1β) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; osteogenic markers (runt-related transcription factor 2 [RUNX2], osteoprotegerin [OPG], and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand [RANKL]) were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Sodium butyrate significantly increased IL-8 (p＜0.05) and IL-22 (p＜0.05) production in IHOKs, with IL-8 further elevated by P. gingivalis (p＜0.05). In THP-1 macrophages, sodium butyrate markedly enhanced IL-1β expression (p＜0.01), especially under P. gingivalis infection (p＜0.05). In MC3T3-E1 cells, sodium butyrate reduced RUNX2 (p＜0.05) and OPG (p＜0.001) mRNA levels and upregulated RANKL (p＜0.05) expression, leading to a substantial elevation in the RANKL/OPG ratio (p＜0.05). These detrimental effects were further aggravated by P. gingivalis (p＜0.05). Conclusion: Sodium butyrate aggravated inflammatory cytokine production in keratinocytes and macrophages while disrupting osteoblast-mediated bone homeostasis by elevating the RANKL/OPG ratio. These findings indicate that butyrate, which accumulates in dysbiotic periodontal pockets, acts as a pathogenic metabolic factor driving immune dysregulation and an imbalance in bone remodeling within periodontal tissues.
Background: This study compared the performance of different versions of generative artificial intelligence (AI) using items from the National Examination for Dental Hygienists and evaluated the potential and limitations of ChatGPT as a learning support tool in dental hygiene education. Methods: A total of 200 items from the 2021 National Examination for Dental Hygienists were analyzed. For ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-4o, both Korean and English versions of the items were entered to calculate accuracy. Problem-solving items were also converted into open-ended questions to assess response accuracy and classify error types. Results: ChatGPT-4o demonstrated higher overall accuracy than ChatGPT-4, with accuracy exceeding 75% for Korean items. Accuracy for English items was lower, with a notable decline in the Medical Law and Regulations domain. Although ChatGPT-4o showed improved performance on open-ended problem-solving items, several responses still contained logical and informational errors. Conclusion: Accuracy improved with newer ChatGPT model versions, particularly for recall-oriented items, although substantial performance differences remained between Korean and English inputs. Persistent logical errors in problem-solving items indicate limited suitability for tasks requiring clinical judgment. These findings highlight the need for students to critically evaluate AI-generated responses and for educators to remain attentive to the rapid evolution of generative AI to ensure its appropriate, continuously updated use in dental hygiene education.
Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis is a primary etiological agent of chronic periodontitis in adults, and its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elicits a strong inflammatory response that contributes to periodontal tissue destruction. Propolis has been reported to exhibit multiple pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of propolis extracts (PEs) collected from different regions of South Korea on LPS from P. gingivalis (LPS-PG)-induced inflammatory responses. Methods: Inflammatory responses were induced in RAW 264.7 macrophages using LPS-PG, followed by treatment with PEs from eight different regions of South Korea at varying concentrations. Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), key inflammatory mediators, was quantified using the Griess reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Protein expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were assessed by Western blot analysis. Results: All PEs dose-dependently inhibited LPS-PG-induced NO and PGE2 production within nontoxic concentration ranges in RAW 264.7 cells (p＜0.05). Furthermore, PEs at a concentration of 20 μg/ml markedly reduced the protein expression of iNOS and COX-2, which regulate the production of NO and PGE2. Conclusion: Korean propolis effectively suppresses LPS-PG–induced inflammatory responses, with comparable inhibitory effects observed across all regional extracts. These findings suggest that Korean propolis may serve as a natural anti-inflammatory agent for adjunctive prevention and treatment of periodontitis.
Background: Fundamental restoration of damaged dental and periodontal tissues requires regenerative approaches beyond conventional treatments. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), which possess high multipotency, are considered a promising resource in stem cell-based regenerative therapies. This study aimed to comprehensively review the extrinsic factors that promote osteogenic differentiation of SHED. Methods: In total, 840 studies were searched using two databases: PubMed and Embase. After screening and evaluation, 18 studies were ultimately included for the analysis. Results: Various extrinsic factors, including signaling molecules, bioactive compounds, nanomaterials, and biomaterials, were found to promote the mineralization and expression of osteogenic proteins and genes in SHED, with distinct mechanisms and efficacies observed among different substances. Conclusion: The review findings provide foundational data for future regenerative dentistry research utilizing SHED and are expected to guide experimental strategies and support potential clinical applications.
