title: Development of a new technique (ATP) for training visually impaired children in oral hygiene maintenance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a special oral health education technique and compare plaque scores before and after health education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-randomised before and after comparison trial without controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The final study population comprised of 96 visually impaired children aged 6-18 years old. Silness and Loe plaque index scores were recorded at baseline. 'Audio tactile performance technique' (ATP Technique) a specially designed health education method was used to educate these children regarding oral hygiene maintenance. Periodic reinforcement of health education was performed at an interval of 9 months. Re-examination was carried out after 18 months of health education to assess plaque scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wilcoxon's sign rank test and paired t test was used to assess the difference between the scores before and after health education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was increase in frequency of tooth brushing after health education. The mean plaque scores pre- and post-health education were 1.41 (+/-0.58) and 0.63 (+/-0.39) respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visually impaired children could maintain an acceptable level of oral hygiene when taught using special customised methods.
authors.affiliation: Department Of Public Health Dentistry, KLE VK Institute of Dental Sciences Belgaum, India. drmamatahebbal@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hebbal
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ankola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D060329:Education of Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013664:Teaching Materials; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities
chemical_list: D014100:Toothpastes