Young-Taek Kim

Chung J, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2026 ;56:e19. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2501940097

Ko KA, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2026 Jan;41:e39. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e39

Aim: Although it has been reported that poor oral health is associated with worsening general health, oral health has been given less importance than general health in Long‐Term Care (LTC) insurance beneficiaries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dental care and improvement in dependency levels of LTC insurance beneficiaries.Methods: This study collected data from 53 130 beneficiaries who were newly approved for LTC in Korea in 2015. They were assigned to five LTC levels according to their dependency on daily life and reassessed after 2–3 years. The change in LTC level was evaluated. The LTC level improvement percentage was compared according to socioeconomic factors, and medical and dental history using the χ²‐test. Factors related to the occurrence of LTC level improvement were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: LTC levels improved in 12.4% of the beneficiaries. Dental treatment experience showed significant differences between the worse or the same group and the better group (P < 0.05), and the odds ratio of dental treatment experience for LTC level improvement was 1.18. In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex, age, hypertension and dental care were statistically significant factors related to the occurrence of LTC level improvement.Conclusions: Dental care was associated with improvement of LTC levels. Therefore, professional dental care programs are helpful in reducing dependency and ultimately improving the quality of life of LTC beneficiaries. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 911–917.

Hye-Won Seo, Young-Taek Kim, Bo-Ah Lee. J Korean Acad Oral Health 2025;49:12-7. https://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2025.49.1.12

Objectives: While the success criteria of endodontic microsurgery (EMS) have been consistently defined and widely accepted, the success criteria of dental implants are outdated and focus only on the implant fixture and surrounding bone. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of EMS and single implants (SIs) with explicit criteria.Methods: We searched for articles published from January 2010 to February 2022 and discussed them and consulted with a clinical advisory committee composed of four dental specialists and one epidemiologist during article selection and data extraction.Results: Twenty-two EMS studies and six SI studies were included in the meta-analysis. Teeth treated using EMS had a pooled success rate of 89% (90% at <5-year follow-up and 80% at ≥5-year follow-up) and the pooled success rate of SI was 78%.Conclusions: The success rates of the two procedures with similar follow-up periods were comparable. Subgroup analysis found no other variable that significantly influenced study heterogeneity. Considering the treatment sequence and the similar success rates, it would be advantageous to consider EMS, rather than implants, first in a situation where both procedures are applicable.

Lee JH, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2025 May;55:e22. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2402220111

Hong SB, et al. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2025 Apr;55:e20. https://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2404680234

Objective: This study investigated risk factors contributed to benign and malignant oral tumors using longitudinal cohort big data.Materials and Methods: We included individuals aged ≥40 years who participated in the National Health Examination in South Korea between 2003 and 2004. National Health Insurance claims data after 16 years were used to determine the incidence of oral tumors and the related risk factors. Hazard ratios were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard regression.Results: A total of 5,992,671 participants were included. The incidence of oral cancer was significantly higher in men and increased with age, whereas that of benign tumors was unaffected by sex and decreased with age. Periodontal disease was associated with the incidence of oral cancer but not benign tumors. Soft tissue diseases were associated with both benign and malignant tumors. Various systemic diseases influence the development of oral tumors. Light alcohol consumption reduced the incidence of oral tumors, whereas heavy alcohol consumption increased the incidence of malignant tumors only. Smoking increased the incidence of benign but not malignant tumors.Conclusion: Recognized risk factors such as sex, age, comorbidities, and dental diseases were associated with oral tumors. Alcohol consumption and smoking were not significantly associated with malignant tumors.

Objectives: To determine the dental care pattern and survival rates of participants who received long‐term care (LTC) and a matched control cohort in South Korea.Background: Global ageing trends and the development of superaged societies pose healthcare challenges. South Korea's LTC system aids those with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Despite the link between oral health and systemic diseases, providing dental care in LTC facilities often reflects social neglect.Methods: We identified 1 459 163 individuals eligible for LTC insurance in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from July 2008 to 2015 (LTC cohort) and 1 459 544 individuals matched through propensity‐score matching (matched cohort). The LTC recipients were further categorised into subgroups based on their care type (institutional, home or mixed care). Population of utilising dental services and the average number of dental visits were counted in each cohort, and the survival rate of the LTC cohort was determined according to dental utilisation.Results: Population of utilising dental services increased steadily in all cohorts except for institutional care, with the highest utilisation (around 30%) observed in the matched cohort. Lower independence in LTC cohorts was associated with lower dental utilisation: 18‐27% for home care, 12‐18% for mixed care, and 10% for institutional care. The survival rates in the LTC cohort were significantly lower than in the matched cohort (P < .0001), with 28.1% survival in LTC vs 59.3% in the matched cohort.Conclusion: Long‐term care recipients experience social neglect for oral care, while higher survival rates were observed in those utilised dental services.