Luís H S, Morgado I, Assunção V, Bernardo M F, Leroux B, Martin M D, DeRouen T A, Leitão J
Faculdade de Medicina Dentária da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Int J Dent Hyg. 2008 Aug;6(3):238-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2007.00270.x.
Dental hygiene activities were developed as part of a randomized clinical trial designed to assess the safety of low-level mercury exposure from dental amalgam restorations. Along with dental-hygiene clinical work, a community programme was implemented after investigators noticed the poor oral hygiene habits of participants, and the need for urgent action to minimize oral health problems in the study population.
Clinical and community activity goal was to promote oral health and prevent new disease. Community activities involved participants and their fellow students and were aimed at providing education on oral health in a school environment.
Dental hygienists developed clinical work with prophylaxis, sealants application and topical fluoride and implemented the community programme with in-class sessions on oral health themes. Twice a month fluoride mouthrinses and bi-annual tooth brushing instructional activity took place. Participation at dental-hygiene activities, sealed teeth with no need of restoration and dental-plaque-index were measures used to evaluate success of the programme for the participants.
Improvement in dental hygiene is shown by the decrease in dental plaque index scores (P < 0.0001); also sealants integrity is achieved in 86.3% of teeth. 888 (13.7%) teeth with sealants had to be restored or were lost. Children participated actively on dental hygiene activities. Teachers became aware of the problem and included oral-health in school curricula.
Dental hygiene activities have shown to be helpful to promote dental hygiene, promote oral health and to provide school-age children with education on habits that will be important for their future good health.
牙齿卫生活动是作为一项随机临床试验的一部分开展的，该试验旨在评估牙科汞合金修复体低水平汞暴露的安全性。在调查人员注意到参与者口腔卫生习惯较差，且需要采取紧急行动以尽量减少研究人群中的口腔健康问题后，除牙齿卫生临床工作外，还实施了一项社区项目。
临床和社区活动的目标是促进口腔健康并预防新疾病。社区活动涉及参与者及其同学，旨在在学校环境中提供口腔健康教育。
牙科保健员开展了包括预防、应用窝沟封闭剂和局部用氟化物的临床工作，并通过以口腔健康为主题的课堂教学实施社区项目。每月进行两次氟化物漱口水活动，每两年开展一次刷牙指导活动。参与牙齿卫生活动、无需修复的封闭牙齿数量和牙菌斑指数是用于评估该项目对参与者成效的指标。
牙菌斑指数得分降低表明牙齿卫生状况有所改善（P < 0.0001）；此外，86.3%的牙齿实现了窝沟封闭剂的完整性。888颗（13.7%）有窝沟封闭剂的牙齿需要修复或已脱落。儿童积极参与牙齿卫生活动。教师意识到了这个问题，并将口腔健康纳入学校课程。
牙齿卫生活动已证明有助于促进牙齿卫生、促进口腔健康，并为学龄儿童提供对其未来良好健康至关重要的习惯教育。
