The Effects of Oral Health Instruction, and the Use of a Battery-Operated Toothbrush on Oral Health of Persons with Serious Mental Illness: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

The Effects of Oral Health Instruction, and the Use of a Battery-Operated Toothbrush on Oral Health of Persons with Serious Mental Illness: A Quasi-Experimental Study.
Community Ment Health J. 2020 Jun 09;:
Authors: Singhal V, Heuer AJ, York J, Gill KJ
Abstract
People with a diagnosis of serious mental illness (SMI) have a greater incidence of poorer oral health as compared to the general population. The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effect that a combination of the use of a battery-operated toothbrush and a related educational intervention may have on the oral health of individuals with serious mental illness. Key findings include that the battery-operated toothbrush resulted in a significant improvement in the mean change in gingival index, a common indicator of oral health. The study also found that oral home care instructions, smoking and level of negative symptoms did not have an effect on the mean change in plaque or gingival indices. This project suggests that the implementation of a relatively simple, cost effective measures such as a battery-operated toothbrush may have a positive impact on the oral health in this population.
PMID: 32519153 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Community Mental Health Journal - June 8, 2020 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Singhal V, Heuer AJ, York J, Gill KJ Tags: Community Ment Health J Source Type: research