Evaluation of a feasible educational intervention in preventing early childhood caries

Abstract

Early childhood caries (ECC) in the primary dentition ofpreschoolers remains high. Young children have limited access tooral healthcare, and oral health education (OHE) measures can bea valuable tool to prevent caries in this population. The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate the impact of an early educational interventionon ECC prevention. The study group (SG) comprised 271 childrenaged 0-12 months and their mothers, who attended 12 selected publichealth centers (PHC). The SG received oral health instructions from apamphlet and by verbal explanation of some topics. One year later, asimilar sample of children from another 12 PHCs were selected to serveas the control (CG; n = 251). The children were examined to determinetheir caries status: decayed = cavitated and/or white spot lesion(maxillary anterior surface); missing; and filled surface index > 0. Therewas a one-year follow-up. Socioeconomic and demographic informationwas collected. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of theeducational intervention on the ECC odds. A sample of 445 (SG = 194and CG = 251) children remained to the end of the study and wereexamined. The prevalence of caries was 12.9% in the SG and 17.9% inthe CG. The odds of caries were 80% higher in the CG than in the SG(p = 0.037). The strategy of providing OHE from a pamphlet and with abrief verbal instruction to mothers during their child’s first year of lifecan constitute a valuable tool for ECC prevention.