Hicks M J, Uldricks J M, Whitacre H L, Anderson J, Moeschberger M L
Division of Dental Hygiene, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
J Dent Hyg. 1993 Feb;67(2):82-92.
Periodontal examination is one of the most frequently performed dental hygiene diagnostic services. This examination is the basis for effective dental hygiene treatment throughout long-term care. The purpose of this investigation was to examine how dental hygienists across the United States assess the periodontal status of three patient types: patients new to the practice, periodontally healthy recall patients, and periodontally unhealthy recall patients.
A two-stage cluster sampling method was used to select a random sample of dental hygienists from each of two states randomly selected from four regions of the United States. Questionnaires were mailed in 1989 to 2,618 dental hygienists. Individual responses were scored according to criteria derived from dental literature for conducting seven components of a comprehensive periodontal examination. Results were calculated and analyzed for each state and region, and across regions for each patient type.
Responses were received from 1,429 subjects, resulting in a 57.5% response rate of deliverable questionnaires. Overall mean scores (possible 0-7) across all regions were 3.68-new patients, 3.22-healthy patients, and 2.67-unhealthy patients. Of the seven assessment components, three-gingival inflammation, furcation involvement, and radiographs-were performed according to the scoring criteria for all patient types by a majority of respondents. The criterion for periodontal pockets was met by a majority for new patients only. Three assessment component criteria were met by less than 40% of the sample for all patient types-attachment levels, mobility, and plaque control. Differences in the mean scores of certain states were found to be statistically significant.
Specific dental hygiene standards are recommended for initial diagnostic and recall monitoring periodontal examinations. Additionally, dental hygiene administration and management of long-term preventive and supportive periodontal therapy programs should assist in improving effectiveness of care and further delineate the profession of dental hygiene.
牙周检查是最常开展的口腔卫生诊断服务之一。该检查是长期护理中有效口腔卫生治疗的基础。本研究的目的是调查美国各地的口腔保健员如何评估三种患者类型的牙周状况：新就诊患者、牙周健康的复诊患者以及牙周不健康的复诊患者。
采用两阶段整群抽样方法，从美国四个地区随机选取的两个州中，各随机抽取一批口腔保健员。1989年向2618名口腔保健员邮寄了问卷。根据从牙科文献中得出的标准，对个体回答进行评分，以开展全面牙周检查的七个组成部分。计算并分析了每个州和地区以及各地区每种患者类型的结果。
共收到1429名受试者的回复，可投递问卷的回复率为57.5%。所有地区的总体平均得分（可能为0 - 7分）分别为：新患者3.68分，健康患者3.22分，不健康患者2.67分。在七个评估组成部分中，大多数受访者对所有患者类型都按照评分标准进行了三项评估，即牙龈炎症、根分叉病变和X光片检查。只有大多数新患者达到了牙周袋的评估标准。所有患者类型中，不到40%的样本达到了三项评估组成部分的标准，即附着水平、松动度和菌斑控制。发现某些州的平均得分差异具有统计学意义。
建议针对牙周检查的初始诊断和复诊监测制定具体的口腔卫生标准。此外，口腔卫生管理以及长期预防性和支持性牙周治疗项目的管理应有助于提高护理效果，并进一步明确口腔卫生专业。
