OHI-S
Pronunciation: OH-aitch-EYE ess
Also written as: OHI-S — Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified
Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified; a standardised index measuring the extent of oral debris and calculus deposits on tooth surfaces for epidemiological and clinical research.
Full Definition
The Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), developed by Greene and Vermillion in 1964, is composed of two components: the Simplified Debris Index (DI-S) and the Simplified Calculus Index (CI-S), each scored 0–3 on six representative tooth surfaces. The combined OHI-S score (0–6) is widely used in dental epidemiology to describe oral hygiene status at the population and individual level. In research manuscripts, editors should confirm that the index is reported as 'OHI-S' (not 'OHIS' or 'OHI'), that scoring criteria are referenced to the original source, and that the index is not conflated with more detailed indices such as the Plaque Index (PI) or Turesky modification. The OHI-S is appropriate for large-scale epidemiological studies but less sensitive for periodontal clinical trials.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as 'OHI-S'. Do not abbreviate as 'OHIS'. Distinguish from the original OHI (1960), which has a different number of scoring surfaces.
In Context
- "Oral hygiene status was quantified using the OHI-S at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months." — School-based dental health intervention study
- "The OHI-S was selected because of its feasibility in large-scale field surveys, despite its limited sensitivity compared to full-mouth plaque scoring." — Justification of methodology in a discussion section