Earticle

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the Vickers hardness on the denture acrylic resins using the glaze color system. Methods: The specimens (20×2 mm) were prepared by mixing according to the manufacturer’s protocols through thermal polymerization and self-polymerization. The surface roughness was measured using a testing machine after water-soaking for 48 hours. For the Vickers hardness measurement, the completed specimen was soaked in water for 48 hours and then applied at 200 gf for 30 seconds. Was the specimen immersed after being soaked in water for 48 hours at temperatures of 5℃ and 55℃, respectively, for 30 seconds for the thermos-cycling treatment, and it was carried out 5,000 times. Results: Surface roughness was higher in the more glazing group than in the control group. A significant difference was observed in all groups, except for the Retec Don 2000 and Luciton 199 groups (p<0.05). As a result of measuring the Vickers hardness, the treatment by glaze color showed slightly lower but the thermo-cycling treatment group appeared higher than control group in all. Conclusion: Therefore, the glaze color was found to affect the surface roughness and showed a significant difference. The surface glaze color showed a very high Vickers hardness after the thermo-cycling treatment, indicating that the surface-strengthening effect is greater in the oral environment.

Purpose: The color of dental zirconia is very important in terms of aesthetics. To reproduce the color tone, a colorant is applied to zirconia to express the color tone. I would like to point out that the color, brightness, and saturation of the colorant used to express the color A3 may vary depending on the manufacturer. Methods: Each zirconia block received a total of 25 circular specimens for the experiment. The zirconia specimen was then deposited by colorant type to reproduce the color tone. Color differences and translucency were measured using a spectrophotometer. To compare and analyze the zirconia color according to the type of colorant, one-way ANOVA was used. Results: For each type of zirconia colorant, there was no statistically significant difference in translucency or b* (p>0.05). There was a statistical difference in L* and a* (p<0.05). Conclusion: The ΔE*ab (D65) value is less than 5.5 or less, and the color difference is within an acceptable range.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of dental fixed prostheses fabricated by 3DP (three-dimensional printing). Methods: Ten main models were prepared for the study. Ten specimens were printed by 3DP (3DP group). Ten specimens were fabricated by the lost wax technique and casting method to complete the control group (LWC group). The marginal fit was measured for 20 specimens. The measurement of marginal fit was performed using the silicon replica technique. Finally, the marginal fit of 10 specimens from each group was calculated. An independent sample t-test was run to see if the calculated averages for the two groups were mutually significant (α=0.05). Results: According to the experimental results, the mean marginal fit of the 3DP group was 71.9 μm, and the LWC group was 55.3 μm. The means of the two groups were found to be significantly different (p<0.001) in the results of the independent sample t-test. Conclusion: The marginal fit of fixed dental prostheses produced by 3DP technology was examined with values greater than those fabricated by traditional technology. However, as it appeared to be a value within the range of clinically acceptable range recommended by numerous studies, it was determined that clinical application would be feasible.

Purpose: The study aims to analyze differences in the satisfaction level of dental technology students regarding in-person and online classes. It also aims to provide fundamental resources for the improvement of major subject class methods that will improve students’ self-directed learning abilities, thereby affecting their class satisfaction. Methods: In this study, a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from November 8 to November 30, 2021, for 256 dental technology students. The collected data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 21.0 statistical program. Frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, post-hoc test, correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis were performed to analyze the data. Results: In the self-directed learning abilities, the attitude of the learners was shown to have the highest positive (+) correlation in both in-person and online classes, with a statistically significant effect (p<0.001) on class satisfaction in major subject classes. Moreover, the explanatory power of the model was 52.2% and 39.7%, respectively. Conclusion: We concluded from the study that there is a need for professors to improve teaching methods to increase learners’ self-directed learning competence, through problem- based learning, discussion learning, team-based collaborative learning, and mentormentee learning, thereby enabling learners to lead classes themselves.

Purpose: This study examines the influence and the relevance of personal background factors, social activity factors, and satisfaction factors for university education of college students in terms of changes in core competencies required by companies, so as to provide basic data for developing a curriculum necessary for improving core competencies. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to 172 college students from the Department of Dental Laboratory Technology at K University in Gangwon Province, who understood the purpose of this study and agreed to participate, from September 10, 2022 to September 30, 2022. Results: 1. The core competency scores of university students in the dental technology department for teamwork was 3.91±0.65, creativity was 3.66±0.70, challenging spirit was 3.64±0.74, professionalism was 3.54±0.74, global was 3.29±0.69. 2. To enhance the core competencies of college students in the dental technology department, it is necessary to improve the satisfaction with the curriculum through the expansion of educational infrastructure, and help in the career decision and preparation process. Conclusion: It is necessary to seek research that identifies the core competencies of dental technicians and university students based on the image of human resources desired by companies in a more diverse way and programs necessary to promote them.

The need for repairing removable dentures has grown as the population had aged. The direct methods allow existing dentures to be repaired without interrupting their use. However, if patient compliance is low, direct methods may be challenging. Moreover, attaching an artificial tooth to a metal base is a complicated procedure because it necessitates casting a retentive element and soldering it to a metal base. This clinical report describes how to add an artificial tooth to a metal base, reline denture bases, and reestablish occlusion on relined removable dentures using indirect methods. Existing removable dentures were successfully repaired and their service life was efficiently extended using the methods described.