Determinants of self-assessed gingival health among adolescents.

Abstract

The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the extent of agreement between clinical and self-assessed gingival health and to investigate possible factors associated with the amount of self-assessed gingival bleeding. A study group comprising students enrolled in grade 7 or 8 in Helsinki, Finland (n = 172), performed a self-assessment based on two tests: the amount of bleeding after toothbrushing and after interproximal tooth cleaning with toothpicks. Clinical examinations based on bleeding on probing (BOP%) were carried out by four local community dentists. The highest observed kappa value was 0.43 for the agreement between BOP% and self-assessment when tested with different cut-off points of diagnosis. Multivariate analysis showed that clinical status and toothbrushing frequency were statistically significantly associated with self-assessed gingival bleeding in both tests. Socioeconomic status and locus of control orientation were also statistically significant factors in the toothpick test. In conclusion, the validity of self-assessment of bleeding was sufficient for monitoring adolescents' gingival health in groups. Self-assessed bleeding was explained by the same factors that were associated with clinical gingival health status.

• Authors: P Kallio, H Murtomaa
• Journal: Acta odontologica Scandinavica (Acta Odontol Scand) Vol. 55 Issue 2 Pg. 106-10 (Apr 1997) ISSN: 0001-6357 [Print] England
• PMID: 9176658 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adolescent Behavior
• Community Dentistry
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Dental Devices, Home Care
• Female
• Finland
• Gingival Diseases (diagnosis)
• Gingival Hemorrhage (diagnosis)
• Health Status
• Humans
• Internal-External Control
• Linear Models
• Male
• Multivariate Analysis
• Periodontal Index
• Reproducibility of Results
• Self-Assessment
• Social Class
• Toothbrushing