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Biomedical subjects

H Murtomaa

Publications and source records attributed to H Murtomaa.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Work-related complaints of dentists and dental assistants.

Occupational health problems of dental teams were investigated in 68 dentists and 90 dental assistants of Helsinki Health Centre. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used. Diagnosed diseases or discomforts of occupational origin were reported by 38% of the dentists and 12% of the dental assistants. Thirty-one percent of the dentists and 10% of the assistants reported having been on sick-leave during the 2 years prior to the survey because of some kind of occupational problem. As a consequence of years in the dental profession, musculoskeletal disorders of back and neck and stress were most frequently experienced by the dentists and rasH or allergic reactions and respiratory infection by the assistants. Only 1% of both professional groups reported no aches while practising dentistry during the 6 months preceding the survey. The vast majority of subjects took regular physical exercise but practice of muscular relaxation or gymnastics at the place of work was unusual. The results indicate that dental teams need functionally designed dental equipment and proper training in ergonomic methods.

Bone Diseases↗
PubMed1982

Public image of dentists and dental visits in Finland.

The public image of dentists and dental visits were surveyed in 1980 by interviewing a national sample of 648 Finns 15-50 years. 67 persons who reported having last visited a dentist more than 5 years ago were excluded from this report. 55% of the interviewees had visited the same dentists earlier, 69% of these had been seeing the same dentist for more than 3 years. The last dentist visited was characterized on three dimensions: technical competence, personality and organization of the surgery. This characterization demonstrated the importance of personal and professional characteristics of the dentists. The intervieews expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the last dentist visited. 28% of the variance in satisfaction experienced was explained in multiple regression analysis. The dental visit was considered important but unpleasant by the interviewees. The principle of free choice of dentist was important to the vast majority of interviewees. It seems that the process of forming the dentist's image is so complex that the dental profession should be comprehensively taught interpersonal skills.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Toothbrushing in Finland.

Oral hygiene behavior was surveyed in June 1971 by interviews with a sample comprising 1063 persons drawn to cover the total Finnish population aged 15 years and over. The interview revealed that the frequency of brushing as reported by dentulous interviewees was distributed as follows: less than once a day (32%), once a day (25%) and more than once a day (43%). Six percent of the interviewees stated that they did not brush their teeth. Most commonly the brushing was performed either as the last thing before retiring for the night (67%) or immediately after waking up in the morning (47%). There was a strong positive correlation between high socioeconomic status and high frequency of toothbrushing. Freshening of the breath and mouth was the most common (55%) reason for brushing the teeth and forgetfulness was the most frequent reason for neglecting it (56%). The investigation showed tha the dental health behavior of the Finnish people with respect to brushing of the teeth has much room for improvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Conceptions of Finnish people about the etiology and prevention of dental caries and periodontal disorders.

Conceptions among the general public in Finland regarding the etiology and prevention of dental caries and periodontal disorders were surveyed in two interviews in 1971 and 1972. Both population samples interviewed comprised about 1,000 people aged 15 years and over. Inadequate oral hygiene was the most common (65%) possible cause chosen by the subjects among the causes of dental caries. Only 44% of the interviewees considered sugar to be a cause of cariers. Thorough cleaning of the teeth (83%) and dentist's check-ups twice a year (67%) were the factors most frequently chosen in caries prevention. Avoidance of sugar (56%) ranked as the third in frequency. As regards symptoms of periodontal disorders, tender gingiva, gingival bleeding, and loosening of the teeth were correctly suggested as symptoms by 62, 61 and 45%, respectively. Poor oral hygiene (77%) was the cause of gingivitis most commonly chosen by the interviewees, while simultaneous systemic disease (37%) was considered more important than, for example, dental calculus (31%). As regards treatment of periodontal disorders, careful toothcleaning (73%) received most support. However, this factor was closely followed by misconceptions regarding the supposed advantageous value of drug and rinses (50%), chewing of fibrous foods (45%), and vitamin therapy (38%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Role of health education among services rendered by dental personnel in Finland.

The quantity and origins of dental health education information were surveyed in June 1973 by interviews with a sample comprising 505 persons drawn to cover the total Finnish population aged 15 years and over. The interview revealed that tooth extraction was the most frequent (43%) of the measures performed during the last visit to dentist and tooth filling was the measure second in frequency (41%). Rare measures were periodontal treatment (13%) and teaching of home care (2%). Radio and television were the most frequently mentioned sources of information (47%); however, the evaluations of the reliability of information on dental health education in the mass media were skeptical. Dental service personnel was a not minor source of information (33%) and its effectiveness was recognized. Although dental health education performed on the personal level is a great challenge, which should be accepted by the whole dental personnel, a total of 58% of the interviewees were of the opinion that they had not received sufficient information on dental home care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Conceptions of Finnish people about their periodontal situation.

The conceptions of Finns regarding their own periodontal status were surveyed in 1972. The interviewed sample, drawn to cover the total Finnish population aged 15 years and over, comprised 965 persons. After exclusion of 233 edentulous subjects, a total of 732 dentulous persons were accepted for the present interview study. 10 percent of the interviewees were aware of their having gingivitis at that time. 57 percent were of the opinion that they had never had gingivitis. On the other hand, 20 percent of the interviewed persons had recently observed gum bleeding while 54 percent stated that they had never observed it. 21 percent of the interviewees were aware of their having dental calculus and 46 percent had the impression that they had never had calculus. 24 oercent of those interviewees who presently had calculus or had had calculus stated that they had never had it removed. Generally Finns failed to realize that gingival bleeding is a symptom of gingival inflammation. This point should be made clear in the dental health education of the future. The knowledge could help individuals to evaluate the state of their own periodontal tissues in order to obtain the best possible benefit from efficient home care.

Adolescent↗