Oral hygiene habits, periodontal status and need for treatment in university students

Authors

  • Renaly Nunes de Lucena Universidade Estadual da Paraíba
  • Karyna de Melo Menezes Universidade Estadual da Paraíba
  • Alessandro Leite Cavalcanti Universidade Estadual da Paraíba
  • Ana Flávia Granville-Garcia Departamento de Odontologia da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba
  • Ruthineia Diógenes Alves Uchôa Lins Universidade Estadual da Paráiba

Keywords:

Periodontics, Oral hygiene, Students.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to assess oral hygiene habits, periodontal status and need for treatment of students. Methods: The sample consisted of 392 students from the State University of Paraíba divided into eight groups according to their course: Dentistry (62), Physiotherapy (49), Pharmacy (45), Nursing (77), Physical Education (50), Psychology (47), Computing (26), and Statistics (36). The periodontal index PSR was used to analyze the periodontal condition, and the Treatment Implications were determined. Data were analyzed with Epi-Info 3.3.2 software and the chi-square test was used. Results: The majority of students (78.1%) reported flossing daily and 57.9% reported brushing their teeth three times a day. It was found that the students of Dentistry, Nursing, Physical Education, Psychology and Statistics had a higher prevalence of gingivitis and Treatment Implication 2. For the students of Physiotherapy, Pharmacy and Computing, the most prevalent diagnosis was suggestive of Periodontitis and Treatment Implication 4. Statistically significant associations (p<0,05) were found between periodontal diagnosis and the courses and between Treatment Implications and the courses. Conclusion: Most students exhibited periodontal changes, though they demonstrated satisfactory oral hygiene habits. The study found that Dentistry students had better periodontal status and oral hygiene habits than students from other courses.

Author Biographies

Renaly Nunes de Lucena, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba

Programa de Iniciação Científica do Departamento de Odontologida da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba.

Karyna de Melo Menezes, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba

Programa de Iniciação Científica do Departamento de Odontologida da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba.

Alessandro Leite Cavalcanti, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba

Doutor em Odontologia pela UFPB; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia, Departamento de Odontologia da UEPB

Ana Flávia Granville-Garcia, Departamento de Odontologia da Universidade Estadual da Paraíba

Destre em clínicas Odontológicas_Odontopediatria pela UFRGS; Doutora em Odontopediatria pela FOP/UPE; Professora de Odontopediatria da FOC/ASCES

Ruthineia Diógenes Alves Uchôa Lins, Universidade Estadual da Paráiba

Doutora em patologia Bucal pela UFRN; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Odontologia, Departamento de Odontologia da UEPB

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Published

2012-11-06

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 4 (2012)

Section

Original Article

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