Teaching plaque control. I. A five-visit versus a two-visit program

Abstract

The effects of two series of oral hygiene instruction programs were studied. One of the programs was given as a series of five consecutive 30-min visits during 14 days. The other program contained the same basic components but was scheduled as two 60-min visits. Sixty-nine white-collar employees served as subjects and were divided into three matched groups; two experimental groups (five-visit group, two-visit group) and one control group. The five-visit program as well as the two-visit program significantly reduced the presence of plaque, gingival bleeding and periodontal pockets. No differences could be observed between the results in two experimental groups during the immediate 12-week observation interval or throughout the subsequent 48 months of maintenance care.