Oral health promotion and fluoride varnish application in preschool children by child carers in child centers, Amphur Banglane, Nakhonpathom province.

Abstract

At the end of the study, mean dmft and dmfs scores were significantly lower for the Experimental (2.2, S.D = 2.8 and 3.8, S.D. = 4.9) compared with that for the Control children (3.3, S.D. = 2.8, p<0.01; 5.3, S.D. = 5.1, p<0.001). The Experimental group also had significantly smaller dmft increment (0.1, S.D = 0.5) and dmfs increment (0.1, S.D = 0.5) than the control group (0.8, S.D = 0.6, p = <0.001; 1.3, S.D = 1.4, p<0.001, respectively). The mean debris reduction was greater in the Experimental group (0.5, S.D = 0.6) than in the Control group (0.02, S.D = 0.6, p<0.01). In addition, frequency and cariogenic score of snack consumption reduced significantly in Experimental group (1. 7, S.D = 1.0 time per day; 13.3, S.D = 6.9 score per day) compared with the Control group (0.4, S.D. = 0.9 time per day, p<0.001; 5.3, S.D = 5.5 score per day, p<0.001) This study suggests that oral health promotion and fluoride varnish application by child carers are effective means in preventing dental caries in a short time period. Child carers should be encouraged to promote and supervise routine tooth brushing of the children, to monitor children's snack consumption and to transfer their knowledge to parents.