A Comparative Evaluation of Efficacy of Different Teaching Methods of Tooth Brushing in Children Contributors

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of three different 'methods of teaching' tooth brushing in young children and the effect of reinforcement on the learning skills of the child.Material and Methods: 60 children (7-9 years) were equally divided into 3 groups (Group I: Audio visual; Group II: individual instruction on cast; Group III-child as a model) based on the 'method of teaching' the tooth brushing to be used. Each group was further divided equally into reinforcer and non reinforcer sub groups according to the reinforcement schedule. After teaching the correct brushing technique, the oral hygiene status of the children was evaluated using modified plaque index. The correct brushing technique was re-taught to the children and the plaque scores were re-evaluated after one week in the reinforcer and nonreinforcer groups. The data was statistically analyzed utilizing the two ways ANOVA and Post Hoc-Bonferroni Multiple comparison test.Results: Maximum drop in post teaching plaque scores was seen in Group II (individual instruction on cast) and the least drop in plaque scores was observed in Group III (child as a model) . The percentage decrease in the post teaching plaque scores even confirmed Group II to be the most efficacious method with a drop in plaque scores to 48.6%. Also reinforcing the brushing instructions again after few days resulted in better reduction of plaque scores.Conclusion: Individual cast instruction group was most effective method for teaching brushing method when compared to other groups. It was further concluded that reinforcement of the desired behavior also had a positive effect on learning skills of the child.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Different Methodologies for Oral Hygiene Training

“…Vivek Rana et al assess the effectiveness of 3 methods of teaching tooth brushing in young children with mixed dentition: audio-visual aids, individual instructions to each child on cast and child as model along with the effect of reinforcement on the learning skills of the child (39). Their results, which are similar to ours, showed that the most effective method of oral hygiene instruction and reinforcement was individual instruction independent of the age of the child.…”

“…Assessment of the effectiveness of teaching methods of oral hygiene is being studied by different authors (39,40,41).…”

Assessment of Efficacy of Different Teaching Methods of Tooth Brushing on Oral Hygiene Status in Adults

“…Nearly similar methodology was followed by Srivastava et al They reported similar results where reinforcement of the brushing techniques again after few days resulted in better reduction of plaque scores in children. 2 Yet, in our study, it was found to be less effective. Although there was a significant difference in the plaque scores in the reinforcers and nonreinforcers, it did not influence the subjects in brushing better.…”

“…2 In 1965, Loe and et al demonstrated that subjects with healthy gingiva developed clinical signs of gingivitis within two to three weeks of refraining from all oral hygiene practices due to undisturbed accumulation of dental plaque. On resumption of adequate oral hygiene, the gingival tissue inflammation subsided within a week.…”

Biological and mechanical degradation affecting the surface properties of aesthetic restorative

“…Tooth brushing is the most used and efficient mechanical method to remove dental biofilm from all accessible tooth surfaces 2 . Published studies have shown that this method may cause tooth and composite abrasion.…”