Behavioral risks of student dental health

Aim. To increase the effectiveness of treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases in smoking students.

Methods. A comprehensive dental examination and survey was conducted among 380 students 180 of whom were smokers, and the other 200 students were not tobacco smokers. The students were comparable by age (mean age 21.1±0.09 and 21.4±0.10 years, p=0.1009) and the initial state of the oral cavity. To assess the effectiveness of treatment and preventive measures, smoking students with inflammatory changes in periodontium were divided into the groups. The first group (52 subjects) was divided into three subgroups: 1a (n=15) — removal of plaque by the piezoelectric ultrasound apparatus Vector; 2a (n=20) — use of the Air-Flo C2 air-abrasive apparatus; 3a (n=17) — use of Gracey curette. The second group (n=32) was divided into two subgroups: control (n=15) where only conventional therapy was applied, including professional oral hygiene (removal of supra- and subgingival dental deposits) and the main one (n=17), where, unlike the control group, additional supportive therapy was introduced with Antitobacco Chamomile-Sage conditioner. Repeated clinical examinations were carried out 1 and 6 months after the completion of treatment using periodontal and hygienic indices.

Results. Students were found to have caries and periodontal inflammation but it was more pronounced in patients with a bad smoking habit in history: 4.37±0.12 and 3.98±0.09 — the intensity of caries in smokers and non-smokers, respectively (p <0.05). Among the smoking students in relatively rare cases a healthy periodontium was detected: 2.78±1.22, versus 9.0±2.02 in the group of non-smoking students (p <0.05). With the inclusion of Antitobacco Chamomile-Sage conditioner in the complex therapy, the values of OHI-S and papillary marginal attachment indices were significantly lower than in the control group 1 and 6 months after treatment. A comparative analysis of the data obtained in another treatment group, divided into three subgroups, revealed that with the use of Gracey curette a more pronounced positive shift in the indices was observed.

Conclusion. Favorable dynamics in the reduction of hygienic and periodontal indices at all stages of the research, indicating improvement of oral hygiene and periodontal condition, was recorded when using periodontal Gracey curette and “Antitobacco Chamomile-Sage” herbal conditioner in the complex treatment.