Date of Award

Fall 1980

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Dental Hygiene

Program/Concentration

Dental Hygiene

Committee Director

Michele L. Darby

Committee Member

Linda K. Sawyer

Committee Member

Deanne S. Allen

Committee Member

John C. Swearingen

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.D46 T5

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to compare two methods for improving the oral health and oral hygiene status of adult dental clients. Fifty subjects were selected and randomly assigned to two groups. Over a 75-day period, Group A used disclosing tablets on a daily basis to reveal dental plaque deposits to control dental disease; Group Bused signs of gingival bleeding on a daily basis to control dental disease. Clients attended four appointments for oral evaluation. The oral health and oral hygiene status of the adult dental clients were measured at each appointment using the Gingival Bleeding Index and the Plaque Index, respectively. Data analysis revealed no significant difference in the mean Plaque Index scores of both groups after manipulation of the experimental variable (2p > 0. 05). Analysis of data did reveal a significant difference in the mean Gingival Bleeding Index scores of Group B after manipulation of the experimental variable (p ≤ 0.05).

Results indicated that the recognition of signs of gingival bleeding for improving oral health was more effective than the "traditional" method of using disclosing tablets and was at least as effective as the "traditional" method for improving the oral hygiene status of adult dental clients.

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DOI

10.25777/90e4-j472

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