A survey of hygienists qualifying from the Liverpool School of Dental Hygiene 1977-1998.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the working patterns of all those who qualified from the Liverpool School of Dental Hygiene over a 20-year period. To assess the proportion who give up practice, the degree of part-time work, career breaks, job satisfaction, availability of continuing professional education etc. METHOD: A questionnaire sent to all 226 hygienists who qualified from the School between 1997 and 1998, whether still enrolled as dental hygienists or not. RESULTS: Responses were received from 83% of whom 89% were still working as hygienists, the majority in general practice. 46% had taken an employment break, mostly for maternity reasons but a significant number for other reasons. Around 80% expressed good job satisfaction. Although there is a high level of part-time work, especially after career breaks, few had experienced difficulty in finding employment. One third of respondents considered that the availability of continuing professional education was 'poor' or 'very poor'. CONCLUSIONS: The great majority of hygienists enjoy good job satisfaction and work in more than one general dental practice. Comparisons suggest that they continue to work in their chosen career at least as much as female dentists do in theirs. The reasons for this are thought to be that hygienists tend to be recruited from the ranks of highly motivated, mature dental nurses and that the profession lends itself to part-time work which can be combined with family commitments. There are perceived deficiencies in the availability of continuing professional education, which may be remedied by the development of distance learning packages and Section 63 type courses designed specifically for them.

Career patterns of dental hygienists qualifying from the Liverpool Dental Hospital School of Dental Hygiene.

This study assesses the pattern of employment of dental hygienists who qualified from the Liverpool Dental Hospital School of Dental Hygiene between 1977 and 1986. Of the 100 students who qualified during this period, 98 responded to a questionnaire. Seventy-seven per cent were employed as dental hygienists or dental health educators at the time of the survey, which took place between October 1987 and February 1988. The results show that after an initial slight under-employment, the majority quickly found as much work as they wanted and worked for an average of 2.24 practices each. The majority chose part-time employment and there was a steady decline in the number of sessions worked from the third year after qualifying. This decline was due to domestic commitments rather than dissatisfaction with the job. Only 4% stated they would definitely not return to work as a hygienist whilst a further 10% were uncertain.

The influence of experimental gingivitis on plaque formation.

The rate of plaque growth was assessed using daily Plaque Index measurements over a 7-day period in eleven dental students with an initial mean Gingival Indes of 1.21 (+/- 0.05). The mean Gingival Index was then reduced to 0.27 (+/- 0.04) and the rate of plaque growth assessed in the same way. Bacterial smears were taken from the teeth at intervals during both experimental periods and percentage counts of various morphological types of bacteria made. The rate of plaque growth was found to be significantly greater when the Gingival Index was high compared with when the Gingival Index was low (P less than 0.001). There was also an earlier development of a complex bacterial flora when the Gingival Index was high. The hypothesis is presented that gingival exudate has no inhibitory action on the formation of dental plaque, but contains substances which enhance bacterial aggregation and the colonization of the tooth surfaces by these aggregates.

A radiographic study of the prevalence of chronic periodontitis in 14-year-old English schoolchildren.

The prevalence of chronic periodontitis was investigated in six hundred and two 14-year-old English schoolchildren using a standardised radiographic technique. The interproximal spaces on the mesial and distal aspects of the first molar teeth were examined. Oral cleanliness and gingivitis for the anterior teeth and caries prevalence were also recorded. Radiographic evidence of chronic periodontitis was detected in 51.5% of the children examined. No significant relationship was demonstrated between bone loss associated with the first molars and any of the other parameters measured.