School-Based Preventive Dental Program in Rural Communities of the Republic of Armenia

Abstract

Objectives: This paper describes a school-based preventive dental program implemented in 14 rural schools within nine villages of Armenia. As part of the program, school-based toothbrushing stations (called Brushadromes) were installed in the participating schools. The intervention included school-based supervised toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste and oral hygiene education. Methods: The study evaluates the prevalence and levels of dental caries among rural schoolchildren in 2013 (before the implementation of the preventive program, referred to as a pre-intervention group) and 2017 (4 years after the start of the program, referred to as an intervention group) in two randomly selected villages where the program was implemented. A repeated cross-sectional study design was used. The prevalence of caries and the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth in permanent dentition (DMFT) and primary dentition (dmft) were recorded among 6–7 and 10–11-year-old schoolchildren in 2013 ( n = 166) and 2017 ( n = 148). The pre-intervention and intervention groups include different children in the same age range, from the same villages, examined at different time points. In both instances, they represented over 95% of the 6–7 and 10–11-year-old student populations of the studied villages. Pearson Chi-square, Fisher's Exact test, independent t -test, and quasi-likelihood Poisson regression were utilized for data analysis. Results: Schoolchildren involved in the intervention had significantly less decay levels compared to same-age pre-intervention groups. For 10–11-year-old schoolchildren involved in the program, the mean number of permanent teeth with caries was lower by a factor of 0.689 (lower by 31.1%), p = 0.008, 95% CI, 0.523; 0.902, compared to the 10–11-year-old pre-intervention group, after controlling for age, sex, child's socio-economic vulnerability status, the village of residence, and the number of permanent teeth with fillings. Conclusions: The study indicates a significantly lower level of caries among schoolchildren in the studied two villages where the intervention was implemented. The described intervention is particularly suitable in rural settings where water fluoridation is not available and homes have limited availability of running water.

Analysis of 5-Year-old children’s oral health service utilization and influencing factors in Guizhou Province, China (2019–2020)

“…Ultimately, comparing the current results of oral status of 5-year-olds and policies regarding other countries or regions [ 34 – 36 ], passive attendance is a key characteristic of 5-year-old children’s utilization of oral health services in Guizhou province and that a shift from a passive to an active attitude is a direction in which to work. According to the draft Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023–2030), by 2030, 75% of the global population will be covered by essential oral health care services to ensure progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for oral health [ 37 ].…”

Screening and treatment time in school-based caries prevention: A randomized clinical trial

“…For example, school sealant programs can protect against caries in vulnerable children [8] and are oGicially recommended by both the CDC and the Community Preventive Services Task Force [9,10]. In addition to dental sealants [8,11], other clinical approaches for school-based caries prevention include fluoride rinses [12], fluoride varnish [13], atraumatic restorations (ART) [14], and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) [15,16]. The sustainability of these programs depends on a multitude of factors including clinical-and cost-eGectiveness, convenience, flexibility in workforce requirements, community engagement, and program participation.…”

Meta-Analysis: Relationship of Implementation of Promotive and Preventive Activities in School Dental Health with The Status of Elementary School Students

“…Study conducted by Tashihiro, et al (2019), showed that there is a relation between Health Promoting Schools (HPSs) programme with dental health status that is less significant with value of (p=0.049: OR=1.47). Meanwhile, a study of Preventive Activities in Preventing Dental and Oral Problems conducted by Gasoyan, et al (2019) stated that the relation between school based preventive programme with the dental health's status is valued significantly of (p=0.008; OR=0.689) and has low rate of dental problems. According to a study conducted by Alsumait, et al (2019), there is a relation between School Based Oral Health Prevention Programme with the dental and oral health's status is valued signficantly of (p=0.001; OR=3,613) and has low rate of dental problems.…”

“…But, according to Zhang, et al (2020), OR value of 4.93 means promotive action is 4.93 times related with the children's dental health's status. Gasoyan, et al (2019), stated that preventive action's OR value is OR=0.689, which means preventive action is 0,689 times related with the children's dental health's status. But, according to Setiari, et al (2017), OR value of OR=6,632 means preventive action is 6,632 times related with the children's dental health's status.…”