Effectiveness of Oral Hygiene by Professional Instruction to Arrest Periodontal Disease in Adolescents

PURPOSE: The purpose was to assess the effectiveness of professional debridement instruction for adolescent small group to arrest periodontal disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High school students (1291 subjects, 12 to 18 years old) were examined the periodontal status using CPI probe. Total score (0 to 24) represented sum of CPI score of 6 index teeth in each student. The largest score of index teeth was represented as the maximum score. The 39 students having 10-14 of total score were extracted from all students to subject for this prophylactic program. First, pocket depth of each index tooth was measured. The standardized photograph of anterior gingiva color was taken by a digital camera. The mean color values were compared between the start point of the status and the last point. O'Leary PCR was recorded after brushing every instruction time, and then professional instruction was performed. Brushing method was instructed using conventional brush Dent EX slim head #33 and one-tuft M (Lion, Tokyo). This instruction was carried out once a week for 10 weeks. RESULTS: Total and maximum CPI score of index teeth tended to be higher with ages. Significantly dropped down from 70 % of the initial examination to 20 % according to the instructions (p<0.001), suggesting they could acquire the techniques to remove the cervical plaque. Total mean pocket depth of index teeth decreased at the last time, but there was no significant difference compared to the first examination. However, the maximum pocket depth significantly decreased at the last examination (p<0.001). Furthermore, total and maximum CPI score significantly decreased at the next year examination (7 months latter). CONCLUSION: Progression of periodontitis could be arrested and also improved in most students having periodontitis when they received the sufficient and the repeated professional oral hygiene instruction.