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The relationship of manual dexterity and knowledge to performance of oral hygiene
Author(s) -
Kenney E. B.,
Saxe S. R.,
Lenox J. A.,
Cooper T. M.,
Caudill J. S.,
Collins A. R.,
Kaplan A.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1976.tb00053.x
Subject(s) - oral hygiene , medicine , dentistry , hygiene , test (biology) , dental plaque , correlation , orthodontics , mathematics , pathology , paleontology , geometry , biology
The correlations between manual dexterity test scores and oral hygiene scores and the correlations between the level of oral hygiene knowledge and oral hygiene scores were investigated in 59 students. Oral hygiene was measured by a modified Löe and Silness plaque index. The buccal and lingual plaque scores were considered together as were the mesial and distal scores. Dexterity was measured by a peg board test and oral hygiene knowledge was measured by a 15 question multiple choice test. Each subject was shown two audiovisual programs on oral hygiene. Plaque scores were measured at the beginning of the study, at 7 days (immediately after carrying out oral hygiene) and at 14 days. Manual dexterity of the right or preferred hand showed significant statistical correlations with all oral hygiene scores except the 14 day interproximal score. There was no significant correlation between left or nonpreferred hand on any of the plaque scores. A correlation was seen between knowledge of oral hygiene (as measured by the multiple choice test) and several of the oral hygiene scores. These correlations were less significant than that seen between dexterity and oral hygiene.