Clinical relevance of dexterity in oral hygiene.

Introduction Dental plaque is a major aetiological factor in the development of periodontal disease; thus, it is essential to remove dental plaque to maintain good oral health. We used a simple method to visually evaluate a patient's dexterity to assess their oral care efficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate dexterity and the effect it has on plaque control. Materials and methods A total of 80 patients, aged between 18 and 60 years, participated in this study. Participants were asked to pick up peas using chopsticks, and transfer them from one box (box A) to an empty box (box B), within one minute. The numbers of peas in box B were then counted. The plaque index score was recorded before and after standardised oral hygiene instructions (OHI) were given to each participant. Age, sex, dominant hand, and the result of the dexterity test were compared. Results Dexterity was the only significant predictor of improvement in oral hygiene after the OHI. All other variables were included in the model but none were reliable predictors. Conclusion Dexterity might be a good predictor of improvement in oral hygiene. We conclude that dexterity should be assessed in order to provide tailored instructions to each individual.