Effect of Comprehensive Short-Term Oral Health Instruction on Level of Knowledge and Behavior of Patients

Background and Aim: Prevention of dental caries and periodontal disease is an important health priority. Oral health instruction can help to achieve this goal. This study sought to assess the effect of a short-term, targeted, well-structured comprehensive oral health instruction on the level of the knowledge and behavior of patients. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 120 patients who were randomly divided into two groups of case and control (n=60). The control group received routine oral health instructions, while the case group received a two-session comprehensive, well-structured oral health instruction provided by trained dental hygienists. The level of the knowledge in the two groups was assessed before and after the intervention using a questionnaire. To assess the effect of the instructions on the oral health behavior of the patients, bleeding on probing (BOP) and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) were measured before and after the instructions. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results: The level of knowledge, PPD, and BOP were not significantly different between the two groups at the baseline (P>0.05). There were significant differences in the level of knowledge (P=0.02), PPD (P=0.03), and BOP (P=0.03) between the two groups after the intervention such that the patients in the case group experienced a reduction in PPD by 2 mm, while BOP decreased by 45%, and knowledge was enhanced by 16% in the case group, compared to the control group, two months after the intervention. Conclusion: Well-structured, targeted, comprehensive short-term oral health instructions can greatly enhance the knowledge and change the behavior of patients.