Abstract
This study focused on the change of environment and cognition of dental hygienists about dental calculus removal after the national health insurance. We conducted online and offline surveys for 290 dental hygienists working in dental clinics in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon areas. Differences in perceptions were assessed by independent t-test and ANOVA. 62.1% answered that the health insurance coverage of dental calculus removal was appropriate, and 49.6% said that the desired number of health insurance coverage about the dental calculus removal should be applied twice a year. 54.3% said that the age after 20 years-old was not appropriate in national health insurance coverage of dental calculus removal, and 49.3% said that the appropriate starting age of dental calculus removal should be applied from high school students. 26.3% said that the number of national health insurance applications should be increased yearly, 20.5% said that oral care education should be added. Most of the dental hygienists said that the number of scaling patients increased, but that the quality of the scaling did not deteriorate. According to general characteristics, in the recognition of the removal of calculus, the dental hygienists having a career for 7~8 years felt less change. The dental hygienist wanted to expand the scope of national health insurance about scaling removal so that more subjects could remove dental calculus removal. Dental hygienists wanted that national health insurance should be systematically supplemented in order to contribute to the promotion of oral health of the people.