Improvement of oral hygiene habits: a psychological approach. 2-year data.
The present communication attempts to determine the effects of individual interviews, conducted by a psychologist, on unmotivated patients' oral hygiene habits. For this investigation, 26 subjects were selected according to the following main criteria: (a) patients with good motor skills (to make sure that poor hygiene was due to poor compliance and not to poor dexterity); (b) patients suffering from periodontitis of Cl II and Cl III of the Modified Nomenclature of the American Academy of Periodontology; (c) patients, who had never been taught toothbrushing techniques prior to attending 4 routine sessions on oral hygiene, and who in spite of understanding the pathogenic relation between plaque and disease, were unable to reach a plaque index score beneath the 50% level. The 26 selected patients were divided randomly into 2 equal groups. Subjects assigned to the 1st group were submitted to interviews with a psychologist, whereas those of the 2nd group were not (control group). Throughout the investigation period, the plaque indices were scored for both groups at 3-month intervals. Results revealed a decrease of plaque index scores in the interviewed group, from 68% to 49%. During the same period, the non-interviewed group exhibited virtually no change.
Alcouffe
F
F
Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Surgery, Paris VII University, France.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*