Implementation and Evaluation of School-Based Dental Caries Preventive Program: Proposal

Abstract

The oral health in Armenia is far from being satisfactory. For example, in 2000, the DMFT index among 12-year-old children was estimated to be 4-5 on average. At the age of 35, the DMFT index was approximately 14 and at the age of 60 there were only 5-6 teeth in the oral cavity. The recent studies conducted in this field showed that the knowledge level of children about the importance of oral health was poor. The proposed program seeks to educate the children aged 6-8 years about appropriate dental care and oral disorders. Children aged 6-8 years have been chosen as target population, because it is easier to change their habits and to teach them to use oral hygiene measures. Moreover, once they get accustomed to these habits they will hopefully keep them throughout their lives and keep natural teeth for their lifetime. The objectives of the proposed program are: to train children in the classrooms to promote healthy behaviors regarding dental care and to increase the knowledge level and change behaviors of children regarding oral hygiene by 20% in one month. For the implementation of the educational program two classes from 2nd and 3rd grades of 3 Yerevan schools will be chosen for the intervention group. Besides the 3 intervention schools, 2 classes will be chosen as a comparison group from 3 schools where the program is not conducted. A total of 360 schoolchildren will be recruited for the evaluation study, these includes 180 in the intervention group and 180 children in the comparison group (age range 6 to 8 years, each class has approximately 30 children). School-based dental health educational program will include presentations, lectures by health educators and instructions about proper ways of brushing and flossing teeth, with illustrations and video demonstrations. In the beginning of the program each child will receive a toothbrush and floss. The evaluation team will perform clinical examinations at baseline and after the intervention – in one month with special emphasis on oral hygiene status by applying the following parameter – plaque control record (PCR). The comparative analysis of these data will make it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Short, school-based educational program among 6-8 years old children in a school about importance of oral hygiene and its proper maintenance could significantly improve children’s dental hygiene practices. Increase of knowledge about dental care will help children to avoid future oral diseases.