Behavioristic technique or oral hygiene--an update.
Two previous articles describing a behavioristic approach to oral hygiene for orthodontic patients have been presented by the author. The present article evaluates a key feature of the latter study which used an aversive conditioner for patients who came to the office with loose bands and displayed poor oral hygiene. The aversive conditioner was effective in reducing poor oral hygiene during office visits but had no effect in reducing the incidence of loose bands. The timing of aversive stimulus is probably responsible for success with the oral hygiene training and also for the failure to reduce the number of loose bands.
D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology