Can a workplace preventive programme affect periodontal health?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate an oral health awareness campaign in an adult population.


METHODS
Four workplaces in north-east London were selected, matched in two pairs and randomly allocated to test and control groups. Completion occurred in 1995.


METHODS
98 volunteer employees in good general health.


METHODS
Two oral examinations were carried out, six weeks apart. The test group received the programme immediately after baseline examination and the controls after the second visit.


METHODS
Gingival bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depths (PD) were measured on each occasion using a controlled pressure probe.


RESULTS
The mean percentage of sites with BOP per subject reduced from 56% to 25% in the test group, while remaining static in the control group at 46% to 48%. The mean percentage of sites probing 4 mm and above per subject reduced from 38% to 25% in the test group and from 28% to 25% in the control group. These differences between groups were statistically significant when submitted to analysis of covariance (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed the clinical effectiveness of a workplace-based oral health awareness campaign, which is ideally suited to the skills and resources of the primary care dental team.
Fishwick
M R
MR
Haringey Healthcare NHS Trust, Dental Department, Tynemouth Road Health Centre, London.
Ashley
F P
FP
Wilson
R F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001515:Beer; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003729:Dental Care; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D004560:Electricity; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006293:Health Promotion; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009782:Occupational Dentistry; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation; D017132:Workplace