Oral Hygiene in a Sample of Children/Adolescents Living in Family-Homes from the Province of Milan (Italy): A Pilot Study.

Shideh Ehsani,Simona Tecco,Floriana Bosco,Alessandro Nota,Francesca Giugliano,Giulia Moreo

doi:10.3390/dj8020033

Shideh Ehsani, Simona Tecco + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/dj8020033

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Abstract

Objective: This pilot study is a prospective controlled clinical trial, designed to evaluate the short-term clinical results (the plaque index) of an educational/motivational program for home oral hygiene, directed to children and adolescents who live in family-homes. Methods: The setting of the project was the province of Milan (Italy), where two family-homes were selected. The study group included 26 children (16 females and 10 males) aged between 7 and 15 years, of Italian nationality, from the family-home communities. The control group included 26 children (15 females and 11 males, aged between 7 and 15 years) of Italian nationality, matched for age and gender distribution with the study group, that were not in a socially disadvantaged condition. Collection of the plaque index (PI) was performed at t0. Then, all basic oral hygiene instructions were given to all children/adolescents and their educators. Education and motivation were repeated in the same way after 4–7 weeks (T1), and after 10–12 weeks (T2). The PI was taken also at T1 and T2. Results: An improvement in the PI was generally found in both groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups over time. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed a statistically significant effect of time [F (1, 52) = 90.73, p < 0.001], regardless of the assignment group, in consequence of which the plaque index presented a moderate and significant improvement. Conclusion: The present data confirm the validity of the educational/motivational program to improve oral hygiene in children/adolescents, regardless of the assignment group.

Highlights

Health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease”
The present study aimed to evaluate the short time clinical results of an educational/motivational program to improve home oral hygiene, directed to children and adolescents who live in family-homes in the province of Milan (Italy)
The present study was a pilot clinical trial, prospective and controlled, that aimed to evaluate the short-term results of an educational/motivational program on home oral hygiene, directed to children and adolescents who live in family-homes

Summary

Introduction

Health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease”. Health is considered a fundamental right of every individual and, for this reason, there should be no inequality with respect to access to information and services to protect it, mostly by the disadvantaged social groups [1,2]. One of the most disadvantaged social groups consists of children/adolescents that are removed from their families of origin, and are institutionalized in family-homes: these minors are generally entrusted to educators/guardians that intervene to guarantee their protection, educational support, and accompaniment towards autonomy with the support of the National Health System and Social Services.

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