[ID 55951] PROGRAMA EDUCATIVO-PREVENTIVO E A HIGIENE BUCAL DE ESCOLARES: ESTUDO CLÍNICO

EDUCATIONAL-PREVENTIVE PROGRAM AND ORAL HYGIENE OF SCHOOLCHILDREN: CLINICAL STUDY

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of educational and preventive activities on the oral hygiene of schoolchildren. Methodology: 40 students aged 6 to 8 years were evaluated in Patos-PB. These were divided into two groups, experimental and control, and were examined for socioeconomic and oral hygiene characteristics, as well as subjected to ISG (Gingival Bleeding Index) and IHO-S (Simplified Oral Hygiene Index) exams. The children in the experimental group participated in a 4-week educational-preventive program, with guidance on oral hygiene, dietary habits and other information relevant to oral health, in addition to carrying out supervised brushing at each session of the program. Four weeks after the initial clinical examination, all them were reassessed clinically in order to resume the indexes. Results: The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in relation to the ISG (p <0.001) and gingivitis activity (p = 0.008) for both groups. Initially, the median of the ISG was 15.50%, falling to 8.00% after carrying out the activities. In addition, the percentage of students with high gingivitis activity, which was 65.0% in the first assessment, dropped to 25.0%, signalling a positive influence of educational and preventive activities on the students' oral hygiene. Conclusion: It was concluded that a short-term educational-preventive program at school level is effective in reducing gingivitis activity and improving oral hygiene. However, for the positive results to be prolonged in the long term, the educational-preventive program must be permanent.