Comparative analysis of oral health students of ISCSEM

Objectives: To comparatively evaluate the plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) in students of 1st and 5th years of the master's degree in Dental Medicine School of Health Sciences Egas Moniz (ISCSEM). Methods: A transversal study was carried out, in the dental clinic of Egas Moniz - Cooperative Higher Education, a sample of 49 dental students of 1st year and 28 dental students from 5th (30% of total), chosen randomly and without prior notice, at least 6 teeth per quadrant, full crown restored or integrates and with theme oral hygiene performed, until, at least, three hours. We administered a questionnaire, which were approached habits and oral hygiene practices, and preventive knowledge. After calibration between researcher, was calculated the PI and the GI through a clinical examination of the oral cavity of individuals. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, the latter using the chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test, for a significance level of 5%. Results: Students in grade 5th have a more careful oral hygiene than the 1st, because they have lower values of PI and GI (p=0.014 and p<0.001). For the questions "Have you had knowledge, through a professional, the correct form to brush your teeth?", "What was the professional?" and "Since began the course, have you changed the form that you made your oral hygiene?" were found in the responses, differences with statistical significance (p<0.001). Conclusions: Students in grade 5th have a more careful oral hygiene than the 1st. The way that dental students take care of theme oral hygiene will be reflected in preventive procedures and how they will transmit the knowledge.