The Importance of Effective Oral Hygiene:

Question 1

Why is oral hygiene performed?

Answer 1

-Remove dental plaque from surfaces of teeth & gums

-Prevent periodontal disease- gingivitis & periodontitis

-Treatment of periodontal disease to arrest progression

-Prevent development & progression of caries (particularly on accessible surfaces)

Question 2

For what reasons might the patient want good oral hygiene?

Answer 2

-Social reasons

-Grooming

-Attractiveness

-Fresh breath

Question 2

What method do we use at Guy’s to record plaque control?

Answer 2

O’ Leary scoring method

-which assesses purely presence or absence of plaque around the gingival margin on the 4 surfaces of the teeth:

buccal, palatal/lingual, mesial, distal

Plaque should be able to be removed with probe

Question 2

What can be done to give effective oral health advice?

Answer 2

-Elicit patients’ own motivation to change

-Providing tailored programmes

-Promote self-efficacy & planning

-Guide rather than direct

Question 2

What is the GPS model for giving effective oral hygiene advice?

Answer 2

Goal setting & Planning: needs to be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-orientated)

Self-monitoring: use of diary, rewards