title: Teaching plaque control. II. 30-minute versus 15-minute appointments in a three-visit program.
abstract: Two plaque control programs were compared. One of the programs was given as a series of three consecutive 30-min instruction appointments during a 14-day period. The other program was condensed into one 15-min instruction appointment and two subsequent 15-min follow-up visits. Fifty-nine blue-collar workers served as subjects and were divided into three matched groups: two experimental groups (30-min and 15-min group) and one control group. The 30-min program as well as the 15-min program significantly reduced the plaque scores in the participants. No difference could be observed between the results of the two programs during the immediate 12-week observation interval or throughout the subsequent 24 months of maintenance care. The results of the present study together with results by Söderholm et al. (1980) and Woofter et al. (1980) indicate that comprehensive plaque control programs may not be necessary and may not increase the effect of basic plaque control instruction.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors