In the relationship between the dental hygienist and the patient, communication plays a key role in ensuring the quality of care, the patient's well-being, and adherence to oral hygiene recommendations. The professional must therefore consider the challenges and limitations of effective communication. The dental hygienist is a healthcare professional who plays a crucial role in the prevention and promotion of oral health. These specialists assist and educate patients on oral hygiene practices. In order to communicate effectively, especially in today's modern society, it is essential to use increasingly advanced communication tools. The hygienist's task is to explore new technologies and communication methods to motivate patients. Through empathetic, respectful, and personalized communication, a lasting relationship is often established between the hygienist and the patient. This is because their interactions are generally more frequent than those between the patient and the dentist. While professional oral hygiene sessions are recommended at least once a year for everyone, "fragile" patients-those with periodontal disease or other conditions-may require more frequent visits. In everyday practice, it has been observed that patients tend to feel more comfortable discussing their doubts, concerns, and issues with dental hygienists rather than with dentists. To achieve effective communication, various communication methods may be necessary. It will be interesting to determine whether technology can become a useful tool in dental hygienists' practice and positively influence patients' oral hygiene with long-lasting effects.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
80
The oral scanner is used to create a digital model of the patient's mouth with which the operator will provide personalized oral hygiene instructions.
AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza
Torino, Italy
Plaque Control Record (PCR)
Presence of bacterial plaque on the tooth surface
Time frame: at least 62 days
Level of adherence to home oral hygiene procedures and devices
Evaluation of how well the patient follows the recommended home oral hygiene indications. The operator will give an evaluation from 1 (no adherence: the patient has not adopted the indications provided during the previous session) to 5 (total adherence: the patient has successfully adopted all the indications provided in the previous session) of the adherence demonstrated by the patient to the use of the devices and techniques of home oral hygiene.
Time frame: at least 62 days
Full Mouth Bleeding Score (FMBS)
Percentage of bleeding gums: A higher percentage shows a worse situation of gum inflammation.
Time frame: at least 62 days
Level of concordance of home hygiene procedures and devices
Evaluation of how much the patient feels involved in the recommended home oral hygiene indications. The operator will give an evaluation from 1 (no concordance: the patient feels minimally involved in the procedures aimed at improving his home oral hygiene) to 5 (total concordance: the patient feels involved in all the procedures aimed at improving his home oral hygiene) of the concordance reported by the patient on the home oral hygiene procedures provided.
Time frame: at least 62 days
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