Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the awareness of patients who visited the Department of Periodontology ofP University Hospital for the periodontal treatments at the initial and maintenance phase under the current management system. Methods: A survey was conducted using a structured self-reporting questionnaire on 190 subjects who were selected from patients who visited the Periodontal Department of P University Hospital for the periodontal treatments at the initial and maintenance phase. The subjects were composed of 97 patients at the initial phase and 93 the patients at maintenance phase. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS statistical package program. Results: As for the basic perception on their oral health, respondents who replied 'Healthy' was 48.4% of maintenance group(MG) while 5.2% of initial group(IG). Those who are aware of the cause of periodontal disease were 89.2% of MG. while 71.1 % of IG. Those who practice proper toothbrushing technic were 54.8% of MG while 33.0% of IG. Those who knew the purpose of toothbrushing were 61.3% of MG while 7.5% ofIG. Those who brush their teeth three minutes and more were 52.7% of MG while 25.8% of IG. Those who use oral hygiene aids to complement toothbrushing were 87.1 % of MG while 38.1 % of IG. Those who prefer oral hygiene advices as maintenance care program were 22.6% of MG while 17.9% of IG. Conclusions: The awareness of both oral health care and periodontal disease management was higher in MG than in IG. It is necessary to introduce maintenance systems at community dental clinics in order to improve periodontal health of residents.