[The effect of professional dental health care in the prevention of periodontal diseases in adults].

Dental health conditions of participants in adult general health examinations provided as a health service by a local government from 1983 to 1987, were analyzed to evaluate the effect of individual dental health instructions with prophylactic treatment (individual instructions) for preventing periodontal diseases. For this purpose, Periodontal Index (Russel) and Debris Index (Greene & Vermillion) of 557 dentate adults aged 40-59 were examined. In the group that received individual instructions, average PI showed a significantly greater decrease during the period from the first inspection in 1983-1986 to the last one in 1987, compared to the group that received no individual instructions. For those with PImax greater than or equal to 6 at the first examination in 1983-1986, the figures of average PI showed a significantly greater decrease in those receiving instruction than the group that received no individual instructions. Between 1983-1987, the proportion of persons with PImax greater than or equal to 6 decreased from 74.2% to 27.3% as a result of the individual instructions. The figures for average DI showed significant changes but, no significant difference was observed between the two groups.