Effectiveness of an individually tailored oral hygiene intervention in improving gingival health among community-dwelling adults with physical disabilities in Thailand.

Abstract

Persons with physical disabilities require specific methods for sustaining good oral health. This study aimed to evaluate an individually tailored oral hygiene intervention program (IT-OHI) for improving gingival health among adults with disabilities. A single group, quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-tests, conducted at a community club for disabled people in Thailand. This study included 145 adults with disabilities, aged 18-74 years. Trained caregivers provided IT-OHI program to all participants. Calibrated dentists assessed the gingival bleeding and dental plaque at baseline/pre-intervention (T0) and at 6 (T1) and 12 (T2) weeks post-intervention. The outcomes were analyzed using the Friedman test, Cochran's Q test, and Binary logistic regression. There were significant decreases in bleeding on probing scores (P<.001) and plaque control record scores (P<.001) throughout the study. However, considering the individual periods, values between T1 and T2 did not improve. Additionally, the IT-OHI program's protective effect was more substantial among the male participants at 12weeks post-intervention (odds ratio=0.094, P=.027) than among the females. The IT-OHI program had partial effectiveness in improving gingival health and reducing dental plaque accumulation in a group of Thai people with physical disabilities; however, the long-term impact remains unclear.