Aim
To assess the effectiveness of two different methods of dental health education (DHE) for improving oral hygiene among hearing impaired adolescents in school aged 11‐20 years.
Methodology and Results
A randomized double blind controlled parallel time series trial was done among 178 hearing impaired adolescents. Considering existing literature, the required sample size was found to be 82 per group, at 95% confidence interval, design effect = 1, type I error = 5%, power of study = 80%, and 20% attrition rate. Two out of five schools were randomly selected. Different methods of DHE were used, schools were coded as School A (DHE using sign language by the investigator) and School B (DHE by conventional visual method, using only posters).
The mean reduction in Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI‐S), Plaque Index (PI), and Gingival Index (GI) scores was 1.13 ± 0.81, 0.66 ± 0.31, and 0.58 ± 0.32, respectively, in school A. The mean reductions seen in school B was 0.52 ± 0.89 in OHI‐S, 0.44 ± 0.44 in PI, and 0.34 ± 0.32 in GI index (P‐value < 0.05).
Conclusion
Basic training of dental professionals in sign language is both effective and feasible, and brings about greater improvement in oral hygiene status and gingival health as compared to the conventional methods of health education
AimTo assess the effectiveness of different parenting interventions for improving oral hygiene of cerebral palsy (CP) children aged 4‐12 years.Methodology and resultsA randomized controlled trial was done among 60 CP children and parents visiting a tertiary care center in New Delhi. The study population was randomly assigned to experimental or control group (30 in each group). Parents/caregivers in the experimental group (Group 1) received video‐based dental health education (DHE) and the control group (Group 2) received conventional DHE. Each group also received two telephonic reinforcements at fourth and eighth week after the first intervention at baseline. The groups were assessed for sociodemographic, familial factors, medical history, oral hygiene practices, and oral hygiene status.At 3‐month follow‐up, the mean reduction in simplified oral hygiene index (OHI‐S), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI) scores was 0.27, 0.17, and 0.09, respectively, in Group 1 (P‐value < .05). The mean reductions seen in Group 2 were 0.03 in OHI‐S, 0.14 in PI, and 0.04 in GI index (P‐value < .05, except for GI score: P‐value = .6).ConclusionVideo‐based DHE is effective and brings about significant improvement in oral hygiene status and oral health among CP children.
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