Long-term effects of a community-based oral health intervention for young children in the Netherlands: A 5-year follow-up

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether referral of parents of 6 months old children by a well-child care (WCC) clinic medical practitioner for an early first dental visit combined with the Non Operative Caries Treatment and Prevention (NOCTP) approach in dental practices was effective to maintain oral health in children. Methods: The study was conducted as a quasi-experimental comparative pre-post trial with a baseline measurement before the intervention. In total 1347 children were allocated at the age of 6 months and 306 children (intervention group: n = 166; care as usual (CAU) group: n = 140) underwent an oral examination at 5 years of age and their parents completed a questionnaire. Nonparametric tests and Hurdle models were used to determine differences in caries experience between the intervention and CAU groups. Results: Children in the intervention group had significantly lower caries experience (d1,2,3mfs) than children in the CAU group (Median = 2 vs. 5, r =.15, p