title: Suggestion of an oral hygiene program for orthodontic patients with cleft lip and palate: findings of a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of an oral hygiene program for orthodontic patients with cleft lip and palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, Bauru, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-two patients with complete cleft lip and palate undergoing orthodontic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orientation on toothbrushing and flossing, plaque disclosure, and scoring according to an especially designed index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical comparison of variation in plaque index between sessions; correlation of intervals between sessions and variation in plaque index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean scores were reduced significantly, from 2.17 to 1.75 between first and second, 2.18 to 1.62 between first and third, and 1.93 to 1.62 between second and third sessions. Plaque reduction was inversely proportional to the time interval.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program demonstrated a significant plaque reduction. The highest reduction between the first and second sessions reveals the need to reinforce the initial instructions at all sessions. The greatest reduction observed at shorter intervals highlights the need for regular follow up. More controlled studies on larger samples should be encouraged to evaluate the validity of the index and the efficacy of similar programs worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Marcelina Plácido
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Almeida Pernambuco
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: da Silva Dalben
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000628:therapy; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000628:therapy*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000009:adverse effects; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000295:instrumentation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric