Abegg, Claides; (1996) Factors affecting tooth cleaning pattern, structure and performance in Brazilian adults. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Tooth cleaning behaviour can be divided into pattern (frequency of tooth cleaning), performance (relative effectiveness of tooth cleaning), and structure (range of items used in tooth cleaning). The main aim of this programme of research was to assess whether those three dimensions were associated with routines of daily activities, flexibility of daily activities and flexibility of working time schedule (job personal schedule freedom). The hypothesis is that tooth cleaning behaviour is affected by the level of routines and flexibility of daily activities, as well as the level of flexibility of the working time schedule. It is hypothesized that subjects who enjoy higher rather than lower levels of routines in daily activities are more likely to clean their teeth less frequently and have worse cleaning performance, use fewer oral hygiene aids, and have more bleeding gums. In addition, subjects who have higher levels of flexibility in daily activities, compared to those with lower levels of flexibility, tend to clean their teeth more frequently, have better cleaning performance, make use of more oral hygiene aids, and have fewer teeth with gums bleeding after probing. Furthermore, it is also hypothesised that subjects who have higher levels of flexibility of working time schedule are predisposed to have higher tooth cleaning frequency, better cleaning performance and less gums bleeding after probing, as well as employ more oral hygiene items, as opposed to those who have lower levels of flexibility of working time schedule. The study was conducted on a sample of 471 Brazilian adults, 234 women and 237 men, from two social classes. The age range was 24 to 44 years. Behavioural socio-economic and clinical data was collected through structured interviews and clinical examinations. Data were analysed by means of logistic regression analysis. There was a highly significant relationship between routines of daily activities and pattern of tooth cleaning behaviour. There was no significant association between routines of daily activities and tooth cleaning performance, structure and gums bleeding. A significant relationship was observed between pattern, performance and less gums bleeding after probing, and flexibility of daily activities. Flexibility of working time schedule was significantly associated with tooth cleaning pattern, performance and structure. It was concluded that routines of daily activities was strongly associated with tooth cleaning pattern and that flexibility of daily activities is an important correlate of tooth cleaning pattern, performance and gums bleeding. In addition, flexibility of working time schedule influences tooth cleaning pattern, performance and structure.

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