An assessment of preventive care offered to orthodontic patients by oral health therapists in NSW Australia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to record preventive oral health care planned by dental therapists and oral health therapists (therapists) for patients with poor oral hygiene undergoing orthodontic treatment.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey, using a clinical vignette of a patient with poor oral hygiene undergoing therapy with a fixed appliance, was undertaken to record the preventive care offered to this individual by therapists working across 15 Local Health Districts (LHDs). This orthodontic vignette was inserted between two dental caries-related vignettes. Data were coded and descriptive statistics were used to report the findings.


RESULTS
One-hundred and seventeen therapists returned questionnaires (giving a response rate of 64.6%), of whom 82.0% (n = 95) completed the orthodontic vignette. Adopting motivational interviewing techniques to facilitate communication with the patient and their parent was recommended by 88.4% (n = 84) respondents, 98.0% (n = 93) offered oral-hygiene instruction, 70.5% (n = 67) recorded plaque levels and used disclosing solution and 60.0% (n = 57) offered dietary advice. Products recommended for use at home included fluoride toothpaste [1,450 ppm F (80.0%; n = 76) and 5,000 ppm F (59.0%; n = 24)] and casein phosphopeptide amorphous phosphates plus fluoride (CPP-ACPF) paste (33.3%; n = 32). Less than 20% offered fissure sealants.


CONCLUSIONS
Preventive advice and care was offered inconsistently by therapists in this study. To ensure that all therapists adopt a scientifically based approach to prevention, LHD clinical directors should implement continuous professional education programmes for therapists to improve patient's health outcomes.
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Oral Health, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia.
Angela V
AV
Masoe
Department of Population Oral Health, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
Anthony S
AS
Blinkhorn
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Oral Health, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia.
Jane
J
Taylor
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Oral Health, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia.
Fiona A
FA
Blinkhorn
D000293:Adolescent; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002364:Caseins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D062405:Motivational Interviewing; D009517:New South Wales; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education / Q000295:instrumentation; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002364:Caseins; D004396:Coloring Agents; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D014100:Toothpastes; C447032:casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate nanocomplex; D005459:Fluorides
Orthodontic adolescent patient; preventive care; public oral health