Oral health status and Oral health promotion for preschool children Phrabu Child Development Center, Phrayuen District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

                This study is an action research that aimed were follow 1) to study context and oral health status in preschool children. 2) develop oral health promotion program for preschool children in child development center. 3) monitor and evaluate results. The participants consisted of 76 preschool children aged 2-5 years who studied in Phrabu Child Development Center, Phra Yuen District, Khon Kaen. Qualitative data were collected from oral health examination form, dental plaque examination and the standardized practice for quality child center form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics used paired sample t-test. The significant level of 0.05 was used. The result indicated that 1) 61 preschool children had deciduous dental caries (80.26%). 15 preschool children were caries free (19.74%). The mean number of decayed missing filled of deciduous teeth (dmft) was 3.72 which higher than the report of 8th Thai national oral health survey in 2017. 2) plan and develop work systems through process A-I-C. There were activities included brushing teeth after lunch, provide nutritious food, learning dental health, dental examination, treatment service, and network partners cooperation.  3) as a result of work, it found that the average plaque scores after 1 and 3 month activities were 1.04 and 0.54 respectively which decreased from before activities with average plaque scores 1.75. Their average plaque score was also significant decrease (p<0.001) 4) child development center passed the standardized practice for quality child center. In addition, there were cooperation of parents and policy support from local government organization.