Julia Winter1, Anahita Jablonski-Momeni2, Annett Ladda3, Klaus Pieper2. 1. Department of Paediatric and Community Dentistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Georg-Voigt-Str. 3, 35039, Marburg, Germany. julia.winter@med.uni-marburg.de. 2. Department of Paediatric and Community Dentistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Georg-Voigt-Str. 3, 35039, Marburg, Germany. 3. Private Practice, Briloner Str. 27, 34508, Willingen, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: In one region of Germany, a group of children took part in regular fluoride gel applications during primary school following intensified prevention in kindergarten. This observational study aimed to ascertain whether the dental health of primary school children can be improved by introducing a group prevention program based on applications of fluoride gel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were distributed among six groups with varying preventive measures in kindergarten and at school. The basis for determining caries experience and calculating the caries increment consisted of dental findings gathered in the second and fourth grade. RESULTS: While second graders without professionally supported daily toothbrushing in kindergarten exhibited an average d3-6mft of 2.17, in those who had enjoyed intensive dental prevention, the corresponding value was 19% lower (d3-6mft = 1.74). The caries increment was significantly lower mainly among children who had received the maximum of group prevention (intensive prevention in kindergarten and gel program at school). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that intensified preventive programs in kindergartens and schools, based mainly on supervised toothbrushing, have a positive effect on the dental health of primary school children. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Such programs are efficient in reducing caries experience especially in socially deprived areas.
OBJECTIVES: In one region of Germany, a group of children took part in regular fluoride gel applications during primary school following intensified prevention in kindergarten. This observational study aimed to ascertain whether the dental health of primary school children can be improved by introducing a group prevention program based on applications of fluoride gel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were distributed among six groups with varying preventive measures in kindergarten and at school. The basis for determining caries experience and calculating the caries increment consisted of dental findings gathered in the second and fourth grade. RESULTS: While second graders without professionally supported daily toothbrushing in kindergarten exhibited an average d3-6mft of 2.17, in those who had enjoyed intensive dental prevention, the corresponding value was 19% lower (d3-6mft = 1.74). The caries increment was significantly lower mainly among children who had received the maximum of group prevention (intensive prevention in kindergarten and gel program at school). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that intensified preventive programs in kindergartens and schools, based mainly on supervised toothbrushing, have a positive effect on the dental health of primary school children. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Such programs are efficient in reducing caries experience especially in socially deprived areas.
Entities:
Keywords:
Caries increment; Fluoride; ICDAS; Preventive program; Primary school children; Socioeconomic status
Authors: Maria Angela Fernandes Ferreira; Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira Latorre; Cecile Soriano Rodrigues; Kenio Costa Lima Journal: Oral Health Prev Dent Date: 2005 Impact factor: 1.256