Does Instruction of Oral Health Behavior for Workers Improve Work Performance?—Quasi-Randomized Trial

Abstract

Oral disease can cause economic loss due to impaired work performance. Therefore, improvement of oral health status and prevention of oral disease is essential among workers. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether oral health-related behavioral modification intervention influences work performance or improves oral health behavior and oral health status among Japanese workers. We quasi-randomly separated participants into the intervention group or the control group at baseline. The intervention group received intensive oral health instruction at baseline and a self-assessment every three months. Both groups received oral examinations and answered the self-questionnaire at baseline and at one-year follow-up. At follow-up, the prevalence of subjects who use fluoride toothpastes and interdental brushes/dental floss were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Three variables (tooth brushing in workplace, using fluoride toothpaste, and experience of receiving tooth brushing instruction in a dental clinic) showed significant improvement only in the intervention group. On the other hand, work performance and oral status did not significantly change in either group. Our intensive oral health-related behavioral modification intervention improved oral health behavior, but neither work performance nor oral status, among Japanese workers.

A multilevel analysis of the importance of oral health instructions for preventing tooth loss: The 8020 Promotion Foundation Study of Japanese Dental Patients

“…Patients attending dental clinics that provided oral health instruction for at least 20 min had a significantly lower risk of tooth loss than those attending dental clinics that did not provide oral health instruction. One workplace study showed that workers receiving dental health instruction showed improved dental health behaviors, such as tooth brushing habits and the use of fluoridated toothpaste [15]. An intervention study of patients with periodontal disease reported that oral health instruction improved oral cleaning habits, oral cleaning status, and gingival status [16].…”

“…Therefore, it is important to clarify the dental-clinic factors related to dental visits. For example, oral health instructions improve oral health behavior and oral health [15,16]. However, few studies have examined the relationships of dental-clinic factors, such as the number of dental hygienists and the provision of oral health instructions, with tooth loss.…”

A multilevel analysis of the importance of oral health instructions for preventing tooth loss: The 8020 Promotion Foundation Study of Japanese Dental Patients

“…Patients attending dental clinics that provided oral health instruction for at least 20 min had a signi cantly lower risk of tooth loss than those attending dental clinics that did not provide oral health instruction. One workplace study showed that workers receiving dental health instruction showed improved dental health behaviors, such as tooth brushing habits and the use of uoridated toothpaste [15]. An intervention study of patients with periodontal disease reported that oral health instruction improved oral cleaning habits, oral cleaning status, and gingival status [16].…”

Association between dental consultation and oral health status among male Japanese employees

“…Many studies have investigated dental consultation visits using questionnaires. 12,13 If it is possible to grasp dental consultation status, including the number of dental visits and the required dental care costs based on medical insurance data, it may be possible to clarify the association between the treatment cost burden due to dental consultation and the benefits obtained. In particular, it would be desirable to demonstrate the effectiveness of undergoing dental treatments on the prevention and management of tooth decay and periodontal disease, which are relatively inexpensive.…”