Table 3 Baseline patient-reported data (participants who provided information at both baseline and follow-up)
Patient-reported outcome | 6-month group | 12-month group | 24-month group | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Level of oral cleanliness (N = 307) |  |  |  | |
1 (Least clean) | 1 (0.9) | 0 | 0 | |
2 | 6 (5.6) | 10 (10.0) | 7 (7.0) | |
3 | 45 (42.1) | 51 (51.0) | 51 (51.0) | |
4 | 46 (43.0) | 34 (34.0) | 37 (37.0) | |
5 (Cleanest) | 9 (8.4) | 5 (5.0) | 5 (5.0) | |
'High’c level of oral cleanliness at baseline (N = 307) |  |  |  | |
N (%) scoring 'High’ | 55 (51.4) | 39 (39.0) | 42 (42.0) | |
How important do you think a regular scale and polish is to keep your mouth clean? (N = 298) | 1 (No Importance) | 3 (2.9) | 10 (10.4) | 8 (8.1) |
2 | 17 (16.5) | 12 (12.5) | 8 (8.1) | |
3 | 25 (24.3) | 17 (17.7) | 24 (24.2) | |
4 | 19 (18.5) | 22 (22.9) | 23 (23.2) | |
N (%) | 5 (Extremely important) | 39 (37.9) | 35 (36.5) | 36 (36.4) |
How important do you think a regular scale and polish is to keep your gums healthy? (N = 302) | 1 (No Importance) | 3 (2.9) | 5 (5.1) | 2 (2.0) |
2 | 5 (4.8) | 2 (2.0) | 6 (6.1) | |
3 | 11 (10.5) | 4 (4.1) | 10 (10.1) | |
4 | 24 (22.9) | 24 (24.5) | 23 (23.2) | |
N (%) | 5 (Extremely important) | 62 (59.0) | 63 (64.5) | 58 (58.6) |
How important do you think a regular scale and polish is to prevent bad breath? | 1 (No Importance) | 11 (10.5) | 13 (13.5) | 9 (9.1) |
2 | 17 (16.2) | 9 (9.4) | 13 (13.1) | |
3 | 24 (22.9) | 24 (25.0) | 22 (22.2) | |
4 | 16 (15.2) | 20 (20.8) | 26 (26.3) | |
(N = 300) | 5 (Extremely important) | 37 (35.2) | 30 (31.3) | 29 (29.3) |
N (%) | Â | |||
How important do you think a regular scale and polish is to make your teeth whiter? (N = 297) | 1 (No Importance) | 14 (13.5) | 16 (16.8) | 8 (8.7) |
2 | 18 (17.3) | 17 (17.9) | 11 (11.2) | |
3 | 22 (21.2) | 16 (16.8) | 26 (26.5) | |
4 | 24 (23.1) | 23 (24.2) | 30 (30.6) | |
N (%) | 5 (Extremely important) | 26 (25.0) | 23 (24.2) | 23 (23.5) |
How important do you think a regular scale and polish is to prevent tooth decay? (N = 299) | 1 (No Importance) | 3 (2.9) | 2 (2.0) | 3 (3.1) |
2 | 7 (6.8) | 11(11.2) | 3 (3.1) | |
3 | 6 (5.8) | 10 (10.2) | 15 (15.3) | |
4 | 23 (22.3) | 9 (9.2) | 22 (22.5) | |
5 (Extremely important) | 64 (62.1) | 66 (67.4) | 55 (56.1) | |
N (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
How often do you think you need a scale and polish? (N = 300) | Once every 3 months | 19 (18.3) | 19 (19.2) | 21 (21.7) |
Once every 6Â months | 49 (47.1) | 48 (48.5) | 47 (48.5) | |
N (%) | Once a year | 22 (21.2) | 29 (29.3) | 24 (24.7) |
Once every 18Â months | 2 (1.9) | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
Once every 2Â years | 8 (7.5) | 1 (1.0) | 5 (5.2) | |
Less than every 2Â years | 4 (3.7) | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | |