Irrigation with chlorhexidine to resolve naturally occurring gingivitis. A methodologic study.

This study compared oral irrigation and rinsing with chlorhexidine (CHX) and placebo in the treatment of naturally occurring chronic gingivitis. 44 subjects with at least 6 interproximal sites which bled on probing were randomly distributed on a double-blind basis into 4 treatment groups, placebo-rinse, CHX-rinse (0.12%), placebo-irrigation and CHX-irrigation (0.06%). A half-mouth was scaled 2 weeks prior to therapy in all groups. Rinses were performed 2 times daily and irrigation was performed once a day by means of an oral irrigator with the tip directed at a right angle to the tooth. Subjects continued with routine oral hygiene without instruction. The active treatment period was 2 months. Parameters were recorded at baseline and at 60 days. At the conclusion, marginal plaque was cultured for predominant microbial types. CHX-rinse (0.12%) and CHX-irrigation (0.06%) significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) plaque. Gingival bleeding decreased by 26% in both scaled and unscaled sites following CHX (0.12%) rinses and by 40% at both types of sites following CHX (0.06%) irrigation. Bleeding was reduced with CHX-irrigation greater (p less than 0.05) than with the placebo-irrigation. The mean log of colony-forming units of Actinomyces species was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in the CHX (0.12%) rinse and CHX (0.06%) irrigator groups than in the placebo groups. These data therefore indicate that delivery of CHX (0.06%) by an oral irrigator is an effective means of treating naturally occurring gingivitis.

Teaching dental materials using the personalized system of instruction.

Tailoring instruction to the individual needs of students is one approach to ensuring that students with lower scholastic aptitudes obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to function successfully as professionals. This study determined the effects of the personalized system of instruction (PSI) on end-of-course achievement, aptitude-achievement relationships, long-term retention, and course attitudes. The PSI method of instruction was compared to a conventional lecture/laboratory approach for teaching a dental materials course to dental hygiene students. Although there was no significant difference between conventionally taught and PSI students on the end-of-term final examination, lower aptitude students in the PSI class scored significantly higher on the final examination than lower aptitude students in the conventional class. Of students completing a one-year retention examination, those in the PSI class scored significantly higher than students in the conventionally taught class. Student course ratings favored PSI instruction both at the end of the course and at the one-year follow-up interval.