Oral cleanliness and gingival health following oral hygiene instruction by selfed‐educational programs

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Abstract
The motivational effect of using a periodontal self-examination manual prior to a self-instructional manual in oral hygiene was investigated. The study also examined whether instruction provided at a later time than the scaling procedure improves the effect of the instruction. Patients (74) with periodontal disease were divided into 3 groups: a group of 23 patients who performed a self-examination of their periodontal condition prior to self-instruction in oral hygiene; a control group of 27 patients who used only the self-instructional oral hygiene manual and a group of 24 patients who were not given the self-instructional oral hygiene manual before 6 wk after the baseline examination. All these patients had their teeth scaled at the start of the study and after 3 and 7 mo. The effect of the various modes of instruction was evaluated by assessments of plaque and gingival bleeding scores. These parameters were determined at the baseline and after 2 and 6 wk and 3 and 7 mo. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in plaque and gingival bleeding scores following the use of the self-instructional manual in oral hygiene. The use of the periodontal self- examination manual or a delay of the instruction had no additional effect on oral cleanliness. The level of oral hygiene and gingival health achieved at 3 mo. was maintained in all 3 groups for an additional period of 4 mo. After that time, they were divided into 2 other groups depending on whether or not their plaque score was < 20%. A total of 26 in the group who had a plaque score higher than 20% demonstrated a plaque score of < 20% after having performed the tooth brushing test. Ten of the remaining patients, who still had a plaque score of > 20% after the tooth brushing test, received additional instruction in oral hygiene which subsequently resulted in improved oral cleanliness after 6 mo.