Educative program for preventing periodontal disease in teenagers

Abstract

Introduction: it is a challenge to modify harmful habits and behaviours for the oral health of teenagers through educative programs.

Objective: to prepare an educative program for preventing periodontal disease in teenagers.

Materials and methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in the period from November 2016 to April 2017 in 7^th grade teenagers from the Urban Junior High School “13 de Marzo”, of Placetas. The variables of the study were periodontal disease, sex, and information level on periodontal disease. The educative program was prepared on the basis of the gathered information. The research was carried out taking into account the international ethic norms for the biomedical research. Absolute frequencies and percentages were used for the analysis of the results.

Results: 69.2 % of the patients suffered the disease; 64 % of the female students and 50 % of the male ones had mild gingivitis. Only 10.3 % suffered moderated gingivitis. 65.8 % of the patients had an inadequate information level. The program dealt with themes like periodontal disease prevention; teeth brushing; effects of smoking in the periodontium and importance of a balanced diet. The educational level and age of the students to which the program was directed at were taken into account. Many participative techniques were applied to motivate the students on the theme.

Conclusions: the educative program was valued as positive according to the criteria of specialists due to the level of relevance to solve the deficiencies that were found.