1995 Volume 45 Issue 2 Pages 190-195
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of professional tooth cleaning on prolongation of tooth life. A group of 407 subjects participated in a 6-year follow-up study. After a baseline examination, they were subjected to professional tooth cleaning. During the subsequent 6 years, they were recalled for preventive measures once every 2-3 months. The professional tooth cleaning was based on tooth brushing aiming at removal of interdental plaque and gingival mechanical stimulation. After the final examination, tooth loss over a 6-year period was calculated. The data of the National Survey of Dental Disease were used as control. More teeth in the middle age or older groups were preserved compared to those in the corresponding control groups. The ratio of mobile teeth and the number of untreated carious teeth at the baseline examination were most significant to predict tooth loss. We suggest that regularly repeated professional tooth cleaning conducted in a middle-aged population will prolong overall tooth life effectively.
