[Relationship between pocket reduction and plaque control in initial treatment].

It has been suggested that plaque control is important in periodontal treatment. This study used O'Leary's plaque control record (PCR) to investigate the influence of plaque control in initial treatment. Thirty patients (18 men and 12 women, mean age 46.7 years) were selected for this study. The results were as follows: The mean pocket depth was reduced from 3.19 mm (at the first examination) to 2.11 mm (at re-evaluation). Mean pocket depth of 3 mm or more at the first examination was reduced from 4.09 mm to 2.43 mm. The mean number of times plaque control instruction was given to reduce the PCR 10% or less was 3.8. The quantity of pocket reduction was significantly greater in the group that underwent instructions to reduce the PCR 10% or less 4 times or less compared with the group that underwent instructions 5 times or more. The group whose mean PCR was 10% or less from the time 10% or less at the first time to re-evaluation, had significantly greater pocket reduction than the group with 20% or more. There was no correlation between pocket reduction and PCR at the first examination and bone loss scores obtained from X-ray films.