School-Based Intervention to Promote Tooth Brushing
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
This intervention used supervised tooth brushing with high fluoridated toothpaste on school days to prevent dental caries among high-risk children. The program was aimed at five-year-old children and their parents, who served as brushing supervisors. After lunch each school day, children brushed their teeth under the supervision of a local parent. Brushing supervisors acted as a contact to families, encouraged children to brush effectively, and awarded individual children weekly certificates for being a good tooth-brusher. Participants in the program were given a new novelty toothbrush and toothpaste to take home over the holidays. Parents received a letter including a tooth-brushing chart with adhesive stars to mark boxes for the day an time that children brushed their teeth. After the holidays children received a small gift for returning the chart. Children also received dental examinations every six months.
Goal / Mission
The goal of this intervention was to reduce dental caries among children by promoting twice daily tooth brushing.
Impact
Supervised tooth brushing and positive reinforcement in a school setting decreased the rate of dental caries in participating children.
Results / Accomplishments
The intervention was evaluated using a randomized controlled trial comparing the supervised brushing group with a control group that received no intervention other than dental examinations every six months. At the end of the two year study, significantly fewer caries developed in the first permanent molars of the intervention group at both D1 and D3 levels when compared to the control group (p < 0.02). The children in the intervention group had 32% fewer D1 lesions (95% CI: 4-60%) and 56% fewer D3 lesions (95% CI: 13-101%) in their first permanent molars than children in the non-intervention group. Children who had no first permanent molars erupted at baseline were more likely to remain caries-free on these teeth during the study, when compared to children with at least one erupted molar.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Liverpool University Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry
Primary Contact
Cynthia Pine
Institute of Dentistry
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5PS
UK
+44(0)207 882 8636
c.m.pine@qmul.ac.uk
http://www.dentistry.qmul.ac.uk/staff/professorcyn...
Institute of Dentistry
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5PS
UK
+44(0)207 882 8636
c.m.pine@qmul.ac.uk
http://www.dentistry.qmul.ac.uk/staff/professorcyn...
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Health / Oral Health
Health / Oral Health
Organization(s)
Liverpool University Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry
Source
Caries Research
Date of publication
2002
Location
Scotland
For more details
Target Audience
Children