Effect of Patient Education on Drinking Behaviour and Oral Hygiene in Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

The background for the study is that many bariatric surgery patients struggle with their oral health after bariatric surgery. This is probably related to both physiological changes and changes in eating and drinking patterns. In addition, many have reduced oral health even before surgery, and a significant proportion also have dental treatment anxiety, which also affects their ability to seek dental treatment. In sum, this is probably a patient group that may be at risk of oral pathology.

Participants in the study will be randomly allocated to different patient education programmes. The three interventions are:

1. customised information on a website 2. education delivered by a clinician 3. distribution of free samples relevant to dental hygiene

The outcomes recorded are level of knowledge, drinking patterns, self-perceived oral health, and oral hygiene routines.