Effect of Visual Impairment Education on the Improvement of Oral Hygiene and Reduction of Periodontitis Prevalence

Background: The present investigation is motivated by the fact that the incidence of visual impairment is increasing all over the world. Blind people may encounter specific problems in plaque control, leading to a higher risk of periodontal disorders. Objectives: To evidence the effect of alternative senses, other than sight, for controlling plaque formation and reducing periodontal indices in blind people. Methods: 51subjects (with ages between 15-45 years), both totally blind or with reduced sight were included in the study. They were instructed to brush their teeth by the M. Stilman method. The two important periodontal indices, Plaque Index (PLI), and Papillary Bleeding Index (PBI) were calculated both before and after the training session. Results: Blind individuals successfully learned the method of brushing by using their tactile sense, which significantly improved their oral hygiene in terms of PLI and PBI. Conclusions: Blind people are prone to properly control their oral hygiene, thus preventing possible periodontal problems and recording normal PLI and PBI values.