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Oral hygiene for the severely handicapped: clinical evaluation of the University of Mississippi dental care system
Author(s) -
Fitchie James G.,
Reeves Gary W.,
Comer Robert W.,
Gatewood R. Scott,
Campbell E. Ann,
Rommerdale Eric H.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1988.tb00754.x
Subject(s) - medicine , oral hygiene , dental care , changeover , dentistry , dental plaque , dental hygiene , significant difference , electrical engineering , transmission (telecommunications) , engineering
The study reported here was a clinical evaluation of an automatic toothbrushing device for persons with severe handicapping conditions. This device, the University of Mississippi dental care system, is designed for patients who are unable to control their arms and hands. The effectiveness of this device was compared to routine (ordinary, manual) regimens of oral hygiene through use of gingival (Loe‐Silness) and plaque (Turesky) indexes (GIs, PIs). Plaque indexes for patients under routine care averaged 2.11; PIs for patients under the dental care system averaged 1.47. Based on Ebbutt's extra period changeover design model, the t ‐test for difference in plaque scores is significant ( P < .001). The results indicate that the University of Mississippi dental care system improves the patients' ability to independently control plaque.