Dental prophylaxis for youths in their late teens

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Abstract
A study of the knowledge about dental health and diseases of youths in their late teens was conducted. A 10-class questionnaire relating to dental caries and gingivitis/periodontitis was answered by 3 test groups (A, B, C) totaling 78 19-yr-olds who, during a 3-yr period, had undergone professional prophylaxis at different intervals. Nineteen young people of the same age without organized preventive measures since their last attendance at the public dental service constituted a control group (D). The test groups had a significantly better knowledge of factors relating to gingivitis/periodontitis than the control group. In questions relating to caries there were no differences among the groups. Higher points were scored in knowledge of therapy and prevention than of the causes and symptoms of the dental diseases. Several regularly repeated sessions for professional prophylaxis did not lead to better knowledge than only a few. No consistent correlation was found for any of the groups between knowledge and both quantitative tooth cleaning, i.e., type and frequency of use of oral hygiene aids and qualitative toothcleaning, expressed as the occurrence of plaque and gingivitis, nor were significant differences found in these respects between individuals with and without a caries increment during the observation period regardless of grouping.