Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the Oral Rating Index (ORI; + 2 - -2) as an index to assess periodontal status in junior high school students. The survey was conducted on 357 junior high school students living in Hiroshima, Japan. The results are summarized as follows.
1. The ORI had significantly negative relations to the gingival index (Loe and Silness), plaque index (Silness and Loe), probing depth and bleeding index (p< 0.001, p< 0.001, p< 0.001 and p< 0.001, respectively).
2. With the use of the ORI, the mean score of girls was statistically higher than that of boys (p< 0.001). The mean score of the ORI of students decreased in proportion to their grade, indicating that their periodontal status tended to be worse in proportion to their grade.
3. The ORI provided logical groupings of students and simplified the analysis of the data collected. The examination was less time-consuming than the normal periodontal examination and still provided information that would enable the dentist to determine practical oral health instruction.
In conclusion, the ORI was found to be an useful index to screen the periodontal status in junior high school students as well as in other field groups.
