Self-assessment of gingival bleeding.
The benefit obtained from the use of a manual for self-assessment of gingival bleeding was evaluated among a group of Finnish army conscripts. After the baseline examination, performed by a dentist, three test groups self-assessed bleeding from their gums during toothbrushing and when cleaning between their teeth with a toothpick. The dentist re-examined the first test group 1 month, the second group 3 months and the third group 6 months after the self-assessment. Gingival bleeding among the test group subjects was compared with that of control group subjects who had been matched for number of bleeding sites at baseline. The self-assessed gingival bleeding was found to correlate with the clinical findings of bleeding. One and 3 months after the self-assessment the test groups had better gingival health than their respective control groups. Six months after the self-assessment, no difference in gingival health was found between the test and control groups. Observed gingival bleeding during the original self-assessment was found to be a positive predictive factor for the subsequent improvement in gingival health.
Department of Periodontology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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Kallio
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Ainamo
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Dusadeepan
D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014099:Toothbrushing