Impact of Continuous Education About Oral Hygiene on the Changes of CPI-index for 12-15-year-old Schoolchildren

INTRODUCTION Periodontal diseases are becoming ever growing problem, not only for stomatology, but also for medicine overall, as the final result from this disease is loss of the teeth. The main cause for the emergence of the periodontal disease is bacterial activity from dental plaque. CPI index / Community Periodontal Index is recommended from the World Health Organization for epidemiological research, and for its application, graded probe WHO for periodontal tissue, which on the top has a ball with radius of 0.5mm, is essential. THE PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH The purpose of the research was to determine the status of periodontal tissue for the sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students, and to examine if continuous education about oral hygiene has a direct impact on the change on the value of CPI-index. THE EXAMINEES AND METHODS THE EXAMINEES AND METHODS OF RESEARCH: during the research 300 schoolchildren (1994, 1995 and 1996 generations, (100 schoolchildren of each generation)) were examined, and these were split into three groups. In the first group, there was no education, in the second group at the beginning of the research a session was held on proper tooth - brushing and importance of oral hygiene and in the third group continuous sessions were held in the period of six months, as per pre-determined timetable (i.e. at the beginning, after seven days, after one month, after three months). The schoolchildren were examined and their CPI - index was determined at the beginning and the end of the research. THE RESULT The result of the research has been shown in a tabular and graphic form. For the schoolchildren, where there was a continuous education about the importance of the oral hygiene, the values of CPI - index have significantly changed. CONCLUSION The status of periodontal tissue for the sixth-, seventh and eighth-grade schoolchildren is unacceptable, but the continuous education about the importance of the oral hygiene is giving very good results in the prevention of emergence of oral diseases.