We investigated the current status of institutional review boards (IRBs) that oversee research in dental hospitals. Eight hospitals, all of which had IRB, responded to our e-mail. The questions comprised two topics: IRBs and the clinical trials approved by them. The results showed that the average number of staff on IRBs of the 8 hospitals was 12.5. Furthermore, the proportion of dentists was the highest among the science committee members, with an average of 7.75, and the average number of non-dentists among the non-scientific members was 1.8. Regular IRBs convened meetings more than once a month, over the past year, or only if necessary.According to the approval status of clinical trials from 2016 to 2019, less than 50 studies accounted for 75%. The materials related to dental-implant procedures accounted for the highest quantity of materials used during clinical trials at 33.3%. The duration of 50% of the clinical trials ranged from more than 1 year to less than 2 years.Thus, based on the hypothesis that institutional reviews are currently conducted at dental hospitals and have raised issues and suggested improvements, we believe that IRBs will play an important role in dental hospitals, with more research conducted in dentistry in the future.

Abstract
Ⅰ. INTRODUCTION
Ⅱ. MATERIALS and METHODS
Ⅲ. RESULTS
    1. IRB 실시기관 운영실태조사결과
    2. 임상시험 실시실태분석 결과
Ⅳ. DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

• 장혜미(원광대학교 치과대학 대전치과병원 기관생명윤리위원회) | Hye-Mi Jang (Daejeon Dental Hospital, College of Dentistry, Institute of Wonkwang Dental Research,Wonkwang University, Institutional Review Boards)
• 박진하(원광대학교 치과대학 대전치과병원 기관생명윤리위원회) | Jin-Ha Park (Daejeon Dental Hospital, College of Dentistry, Institute of Wonkwang Dental Research,Wonkwang University, Institutional Review Boards)
• 이재홍(원광대학교 치과대학 대전치과병원 치주과) | Jae-Hong Lee (Daejeon Dental Hospital, College of Dentistry, Institute of Wonkwang Dental Research,Wonkwang University, Department of Periodontology) Correspondence