This study evaluated the effectiveness of two school-based oral health education (OHE) programs on the oral health knowledge and behavior and oral hygiene of 9-year-old children in Turkey. The study included 1,053 school children aged 9 years in Aydin, Turkey. This study was a prospective, two-arm, and parallel-group clinical trial between two different OHE programs. The dentist group received one lecture on OHE given by dentists in the classroom. The teacher group had a similar lecture given by school teachers, including supporting materials which were available throughout the academic year. Oral health knowledge and behavior were evaluated with a questionnaire at baseline, and then at 1 and 6 months. In total, 110 students were randomly selected to undergo a plaque accumulation assessment according to the Silness–Löe Index at baseline and 1 month later to determine the effects of the education programs on oral hygiene. At baseline, tooth-brushing frequency was similar in the study groups. Compared with baseline, the frequency of brushing increased significantly after 1 and 6 months in both groups ( p < .001). Teacher education was more effective for teaching correct brushing techniques ( p < .001). A significant decrease in plaque accumulation has been evaluated in both study groups at the 1-month examination after the education session ( p < .05). Both OHE programs were found to generate improvements in knowledge and behavior of children on oral health and plaque control in the short term.

Objective: Dental caries is an important public health issue worldwide. In developing countries preventive dentistry is not common; hence, oral and dental health problems continue to generate serious economic and social issues. The aim of this study was to assess oral health and the incidence of dental caries in systemically healthy children aged 3-14 years, provide education on oral hygiene motivation, conduct the necessary preventive and restorative procedures, and reassess caries development at the 6-, 12-, and 18-month post-treatment follow-up. Methods: Systemically healthy children aged 3-14 years who applied to the Paediatric Dentistry Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Adnan Menderes University (ADU) were included in the study. The subjects were evaluated for oral health status and incidence of dental caries based on surveys and clinical examination, motivation for oral hygiene with necessary training, completion of preventive and restorative treatments, and development of dental caries at the 6-, 12-, and 18-month post-treatment follow-up. Results: The study included 320 patients, aged 3-14 years (mean age 8.08 ± 3.45 years). In children included in the study, the average decayed (d), missing (m) and filled (f) primary teeth (dmft) value was 3.81 (min-max: 0-16), decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) permanent teeth (DMFT) value, 1.49 (min-max: 0-6), decayed (d), missing(m) and filled(f) primary teeth surface (dmfs) value, 10.11 (min-max: 0-40), and decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) permanent teeth surface (DMFS) value, 2.09 (min-max: 0-12). Conclusions: For the protection and maintenance of oral and dental health in dentistry, preventive approaches should be the first concern and conservative therapeutic methods should be given priority after occurrence of any dental pathology. In addition, one-time examinations are not sufficient, and children should be examined at least twice a year. This study showed that the incidence of dental caries declined in children who underwent periodical examination and preventive dental treatment.

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ÖzeTABS TRACT Amaç: Ağız sağlığının sürdürülmesi ve hastalıklarının önlenmesi diş hekimliğinin ana hedeflerindendir. Dolayısıyla bireyin hayatının erken yıllarında başvurduğu sağlık çalışanları ağız içinde çürüğe sebep olabilecek predispozan faktörlerin, gelişimsel bozukluklara yol açan zararlı alışkanlıkların tespit edilmesinde önemli rol oynamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, çocukların doğumdan itibaren başvurduğu uzmanlar olan pediatristlerin ağız diş sağlığı konusundaki bilgi düzeylerinin araştırılmasıdır. Aim:One of the main objectives of dentistry is maintenance of oral health and prevention of diseases. Evidence increasingly suggests that for successful prevention of caries, preventive interactions must begin within the first year of life. Pediatricians are well positioned to begin this process with an early assessment of oral health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge of pediatricians about oral and dental health. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire prepared was applied to pediatricians working in Aydın and Izmir. A total of 256 surveys were distributed to the pediatricians working in Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Disease and Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Maternity and Children Hospital. 100 surveys, which were fully filled and returned, were included to the study. Results: Pediatricians' knowledge about oral and dental health was found to be moderate. The evaluation showed that 61% of pediatricians reported that a 3-month old baby living in a nonfluoridated area needed flouride supplementation. 66% of the respondents did not have information about fissure sealants. Conclusion: Knowledge of pediatricians regarding preventive dentistry applications was found to be inadequate.