Prevalence of periodontal disease in a health maintenance organization and comparisons to the national survey of oral health.

The purposes of this study were to: 1) characterize the demographics, oral health behavior, and periodontal status of a health maintenance organization sample; 2) investigate the relationship between the location of posterior proximal measurement sites and prevalence estimates for periodontal disease; and 3) compare the prevalence of persons with pockets > or = 4 mm in the present sample to the 1985 NIDR Survey of Oral Health. The sample consisted of 1,090 adults attending a large health maintenance organization. All proximal sites in one randomly selected posterior dental sextant were examined for probing depth using a constant force probe.

Irrigation with 0.06% chlorhexidine in naturally occurring gingivitis. II. 6 months microbiological observations.

In an examiner blind positive/negative controlled 6-month study, the efficacy of supragingival irrigation with 0.06% chlorhexidine gluconate on the marginal and subgingival microflora in naturally occurring gingivitis was evaluated. The 222 patients enrolled in the study were assigned to one of four groups: Group 1: Once daily irrigation with 300 ml water followed by irrigation with 200 ml 0.

Supragingival irrigation with 0.06% chlorhexidine in naturally occurring gingivitis. I. 6 month clinical observations.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of supragingival irrigation with 0.06% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) on naturally occurring gingivitis. The relative benefit of CHX irrigation in comparison with CHX rinsing, water irrigation, and normal oral hygiene was evaluated.

Implications of the changing medical profile of a dental school patient population.

Representative adult patient populations seeking treatment at a dental school in 1976 and 1986 were analyzed for the prevalence and the characteristics of medical conditions. Patients' records (N = 3,000) were randomly selected from the examination clinics and reviewed for the presence and types of compromising medical conditions. The results indicated a significant increase in the percentage of dental patients who had medical conditions in 1986 as compared with 1976 (P less than .

Effect of toothbrushing with 0.4% stannous fluoride and 0.22% sodium fluoride gel on gingivitis for 18 months.

This study determined the effect of brushing with 0.4% stannous fluoride (SnF2) or 0.22% sodium fluoride (NaF) on clinical and microbial parameters associated with gingivitis.

Dental hygiene continuing education. Satisfaction and achievement.

This study addresses questions associated with performance on a continuing education course in periodontics and the participants' satisfaction with that course. The authors examine relationships between pre- and post-course test scores and various characteristics of the 120 dental hygienists who enrolled in one or more continuing education courses on periodontics. Four characteristics were found to be related to pre-course test scores.

The effect of professional and home subgingival irrigation with antimicrobial agents on gingivitis and early periodontitis.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of a professionally applied subgingival antimicrobial agent (stannous fluoride) delivered at periodontal prophylaxis, combined with home personal subgingival delivery of an antimicrobial agent (iodine) on patients with gingivitis and early periodontitis. A control group of 32 individuals was instructed to use dental floss and a sulcular toothbrushing method as a regular oral hygiene regimen. The test group of 42 subjects received professional subgingival irrigation with a 1.

Four-year investigation of salt and peroxide regimen compared with conventional oral hygiene.

This study of 171 subjects compared the effectiveness of a patient-applied salt and peroxide oral hygiene regimen with the use of conventional oral hygiene methods on clinical measures of periodontal disease, and determined patient compliance with and acceptance of using these two oral hygiene regimens. Results indicated that both regimens, when combined with professional care, were effective in changing clinical measures of periodontal disease to a state favoring periodontal health.

Salt and peroxide compared with conventional oral hygiene. III. Patient compliance and acceptance.

This study was undertaken to evaluate patient compliance with, and acceptance of, a salt and peroxide oral hygiene regimen compared with conventional oral hygiene regimens without or with the use of phase-contrast microscope viewing of subgingival plaque over a period of 2 years. A total of 231 subjects with early to moderate periodontitis were randomly divided into four groups. All groups were repeatedly instructed and motivated in their respective regimens.

Salt and peroxide compared with conventional oral hygiene. II. Microbial results.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of conventional oral hygiene (n = 116 subjects) versus a salt and peroxide oral hygiene regimen (n = 115 subjects) on subgingival microorganisms. Subgingival plaque for microscopic evaluation was obtained from eight index tooth sites in each of 231 adult subjects. Microbial forms were microscopically identified at baseline, 8, 16, and 24 months.

Salt and peroxide compared with conventional oral hygiene. I. Clinical results.

The purposes of this 2-year longitudinal study were to: compare the clinical effectiveness of patient applied sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium chloride (S/P) to the use of conventional oral hygiene methods and to investigate the motivational effect of using phase-contrast microscopy in teaching effective oral hygiene. Initially, 972 subjects were screened for signs of periodontitis. From these, 347 with early to moderate periodontitis were selected and each was randomly assigned to one of four home treatment regimens after scaling and root planing.

Microbial interpretation of plaque relative to the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.

It has been suggested that monitoring microbial forms in plaque with the microscope may prove useful to the clinician in assessing periodontal status. In this regard, the microbial interpretation of plaque relative to the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease has recently received considerable attention. However, questions remain to be answered before the microscope is accepted for routine use in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.

Utilization of locus of control in the prediction of patients' oral hygiene performance.

This study investigated the relationship between internal and external locus of control classified patients and improvement in oral hygiene skills and plaque scores. Locus of control scores, and initial and final skill and plaque scores were recorded for 22 dental patients with moderate periodontitis. Oral hygiene instruction was given over a 3-month period to each patient.

The effect of a televised periodontal campaign on public periodontal awareness.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of the Minnesota Dental Association's 1979 to 1980 periodontal awareness television campaign in terms of (1) reaching the target population, (2) improving public knowledge regarding the major reason for tooth loss in adults and (3) increasing intended future preventive dental visits. Based on the Health Belief Model, a 30-second television message was developed presenting periodontal disease as an often overlooked but compelling reason to seek preventive dental care. The message was aimed at adults 18 years of age and older who did not visit the dentist regularly.

Distribution and readability of periodontal health education literature.

THIS INVESTIGATION was undertaken to determine the distribution pattern and readability level of 20 widely distributed printed items containing periodontal health education literature. Average annual distribution was obtained from distributors of the material. The Minnesota Interactive Readability Approximation Program (MNIRAP) was used to determine the reading skill (educational grade level) necessary to understand each of the pieces of literature.

Relationship between proximal tooth open contacts and periodontal disease.

ONE HUNDRED FOUR adult subjects (mean age 42.8 years, SD = 16.3 years) with unilateral open contacts were assessed interproximally for periodontal status at both the open and contralateral closed contact.