Factors influencing oral hygiene and gingival health in Greek schoolchildren

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A total of 397 children aged 12-17 yr from different schools were divided into 2 groups. Group I comprised 192 children from private schools in Athens and Group II comprised 205 children from state schools of an industrial area in Piraeus. They were also subgrouped according to their socioeconomic class. They were interviewed with regard to their oral health habits, frequency of dental visits, etc. and subjected to clinical examination using the criteria and indices described by Silness and Loe and Loe and Silness. Stepwise regression analysis was used in the statistical evaluation of factors related to GI [gingival index] and Pl I[plaque index]. The following factors were statistically significant in relation to GI: socioeconomic class, toothbrushing frequency, sex and group examined. For Pl I statistically significant factors were: age, group examined and sex. All other variables were not significantly correlated to GI and Pl I.