Oral care for patients with maxillary defects by a dental hygienist

Abstract

After a malignant tumor has been excised in the mouth, the form dentures required is complex and cleaning is technically difficult. The maxillofacial prosthetic clinic at our university provides a team approach to rehabilitation that includes a dental surgeon, prosthodontist, dental technician and dental hygienist. The hygienist works closely in advising the patient concerning daily oral hygiene.
In this report, the state of plaque control in dento-maxillary prosthesis wearers was evaluated by using O’Leary’s plaque control record （PCR） before / after instruction by an oral hygienist. The state of denture plaque control was evaluated by the extent of dyed area on the polished surface of the obturator, retainers and artificial teeth where denture plaque tends to accumulate. A questionnaire survey on the oral hygiene habit was also carried out.
As a result, PCR and denture plaque were greatly improved by oral hygiene guidance. In the questionnaire, it was found that special oral hygiene management by the dental hygienist corresponding to each patient was important in improving mouth cleaning techniques and awareness. However, a significant difference was not found between the common denture group and the dentures for defective jaw group.