Research

The relationship between dental hygiene problems and dental hygiene planning according to oral health status

Hyun-Kyung Kang   Yu-Rin Kim*   

Department of Dental Hygiene, Silla University

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to reduce the burden on dental hygienists in performing dental hygiene processes in the clinic. This study systematically analyzed dental hygiene problems and dental hygiene planning according to the oral condition of patients by applying an oral health care program based on the dental hygiene process. Methods: This study analyzed influential factors of 17 dental hygiene problems and 12 dental hygiene plans according to the oral health index and charts of 185 patients. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB No. 1041449-201801-HR-003) of Silla University. The frequency of dental hygiene problems and dental hygiene planning was analyzed and correlations among the oral health index, dental hygiene problems, and dental hygiene planning were analyzed. Results: The higher the bleeding on probing score was, the more scaling was planned. The higher the calculus rate was, the more air-jet and jaw joint disorder prevention education was planned. The higher the O’Leary index was, the more dietary education and air-jet was planned. The higher the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index was, the more air-jet and jaw joint disorder prevention education was planned. The higher the Periodontal Screening and Recording index was, the more scaling and professional tooth cleaning was planned (p<0.05). Conclusions: The burden of oral preventive duties on dental hygienists will be minimized by systematically establishing problems and planning of dental hygiene according to patients’ oral health index scores. Therefore, it is expected that dental hygienist can actively use the dental hygiene process in oral health care programs.

Figures & Tables

Table 1. General characteristics and oral health index of the subjects (N = 185)