Abstract

The effect of a single viewing of a patient-counseling film and a single instruction by a hygienist in producing changes in the oral hygiene of a group of school children 12 to 13 years of age was investigated. The subjects were divided into three experimental groups and one control group of twenty-one each.

A different method of oral hygiene instructions was given to each of the experimental groups. One group viewed the film, the second group was instructed by a hygienist, and the third group viewed the film and was instructed by the hygienist. The control group was not given any form of oral hygiene instructions. The oral hygiene status was measured by a modified plaque index on the labial and lingual surface of six pre-selected teeth. The plaque was measured before, and one week and one month after the oral hygiene instructions were given.

A factorial analysis was done to determine the effect of the three methods of instruction. The effect of the film was statistically significant at one week (P < .005) and not significant at one month. The effect of the hygienist was statistically significant (P < .025) at one week and one month. The combination of the film and hygienist produced an additive effect, but no significant interaction.

The results suggested a single viewing of the film produced an initial effect, but this was only temporary. One instruction by the hygienist produced a more lasting effect. A combination of the two methods appears to be the most effective of the three methods. Since the mean plaque level was only reduced from two-thirds to one-third of the tooth, additional study on a longitudinal basis is necessary to substantiate the clinical significance of these findings.

LLU Discipline

Periodontics

Department

Periodontics

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Edwin M. Collins

Second Advisor

Richard C. Oliver

Third Advisor

Shirou Kunihira

Fourth Advisor

Judson Klooster

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1969

Date (Title Page)

8-1969

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Oral Hygiene -- education; Oral Hygiene -- in adolescence

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 53

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS