Oral health status of Korean adults with implants according to their use of oral hygiene products: results from a nationwide population-based study (2013–2015)

PURPOSE: Many home care treatments can be used to promote the health and longevity of dental implants; however, few studies are available to support the concept that self-performed oral hygiene behaviors are an essential tool for improving and maintaining oral health. We investigated age-stratified associations between dental health behaviors related to tooth brushing (TB) and oral hygiene product use in Korean adults with implants. METHODS: A total of 1,911 subjects over 19 years of age who had 1 or more implants and who participated in the 2013 to 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were reviewed. Periodontal status was assessed using Community Periodontal Index (CPI) scores, and periodontitis was defined as a CPI greater than or equal to 3. The complex sampling design of the survey was utilized to obtain the variance and individual weight of each analyzed factor. A high CPI was the outcome variable, and the main explanatory variables were oral hygiene behaviors, such as TB, dental floss (DF), interproximal brushing, and mouth rinsing. RESULTS: Almost all individuals with a lower CPI brushed their teeth twice or more per day, in contrast to those with a higher CPI, and were likely to use DF. The adjusted odds ratio of not using DF for a higher CPI was 1.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.35–2.49). CONCLUSIONS: TB was implemented more than twice a day by patients with good oral health, and the combination of TB and DF significantly reduced the prevalence of a higher CPI. Self-performed oral hygiene practices combining TB and DF were significantly related to a low prevalence of periodontitis in implant patients.