dc.description.abstract | This study was designed to determine the effects of scaling and
of oral hygiene educ et i on COHE) on the periodontal status of a
group of 101 factory workers.
101 male factory workers aged between 30-50 years were selected
from 2 mill ing f ect ori es in the Neirobi ' s industria I area. These
workerswere first subjected to a baseline examination after
which they were randomly assigned to 4 intervention groups. The
treatments were carried out three months after the baseline
examination. Group 1, received scaling alone, group 2, scaling
combined with UHE, group 3 OHE alone and group 4 received no
treatment at all. A final examination was carried out 6 months
following treatment.
There were no differences among the groups at baseline. For the
final examination, there were statistically significant
differences among the groups in: plaque score 2CF=4.24; P=O.OOB),
gingivitis score 0(F=3.31; P=O.0246), supragingival calculus
(F=3.6B; P=O.015B), subgingival calculus (F=41.4B; P=O.OOOl) and
pocket depth (F=2.B7; P=0.042).
An analysis of the changes that occurred within each group
between the baseline and final examination indicated that there
was a significant increase in the number of plaque free sites in
all the treatment groups, p<O.OOl, p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<O.05 for
groups 1,2,3, and 4 respectively. The number of ce lcu lu s free
ites increased significantly, p<O.OOl in both groups 1 and 2.
This was mainly due to a decrease in the number of sites with
ubgingival calculus. These decreased significantly (p<O,OOl)
in these groups, while in the groups that did not receive scaling
i.e groups 3 and 4 the number of sites with subgingival calculus
increased significantly (p<O.Ol and 0.05 respectively),
The number ot sites with supragingival calculus decreased
significantly (p<n.Ol) only in group 1. A significant increase in
the number of gingivitis free sites was observed in group 1
(p<O.OOI) and group 2 (p<O.OI). Groups I and 2 demonstrated a
significant increase in the number of shallow pockets (p<O.OI,
p<O.OI respectively) and a decrease in the number of deep pockets
(p<O.OI, p<O.OS respectively). In all the groups, the number of
sites with attachment loss 0 mm increased significantly (p<O.OOI
in all the groups) while the number of sites with attachment loss
1-3 mm decreased significantly (p<O.OOl for all the groups).
However. the number of sites with attachment loss 14 mm showed a
significant decrease (p<O.OS) in group 2 only.
The effect of scaling was determined by comparing the "scaled"
group (group 1+2) with the "non scaled" group (group 3+4). For
plaque, scaling was found to have a significant effect (p<O.OS)
on plaque score 2 only. It had no effect on the number of plaque
free sites (score 0). Scaling was found to significantly
(p<O.OOOI) increase the number of calculus free sites. This was
round mainly attributed to a decrease in the number of sites wi th
subgingival calculus (p<O.OOOl). Scaling did not have a
significant effect on the supragingival calculus. Scaling was
associated with a significant increase (p<O.003) in the number ot
gingivitis free sites. Scaling also caused a significant
reduction (p=O.05) in the number of deep pockets. Following
scaling, the number of sites with attachment loss 0 mm increased
significantly (p=O.Ol) while the number of sites with attachment
loss 1-3 mm and 14 mm decreased significantly (p=O.035 and
p=O.021 respectively),
In this study, scaling was found to improve all the periodontal
parameters except for plaque. Scaling resulted in a limited
improvement on the pocket depth and attachment level. The
greatest effect of scaling was limited to the subgingival
calculus. Scaling produced a significant reduction in the number
of bleeding sites. OHE was not effective in this study.
A combination of scaling and OHE did not offer any significant
advantage over scaling alone.
Although scaling was associated with a statistically significant
improvement in periodontal status over a six month period study,
some deterioration was observed to have occurred after treatment
on the supragingival calculus. Due to the poor plaque controlled
in the scaled group, it is possible that a deterioration may have
occurred in the other periodontal parameters. This would not have
been detectable in this study since it had only one posttreatment
examination. Before scaling can be recommended as a
method of treating periodontal disease in the community, better
methods of controlling plaque should be sought. AIso a longer
study with more post-treatment examinations should be carried out
to determine the effects of scaling on the progression of the
disease. | en |
dc.description.department | a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | |