Caries preventive methods in child dental care reported by dental hygienists, Norway, 1995 and 2004

Dental hygienists are used as first-line personnel in child dental care in Norway, and have an increasing influence on the delivery of preventive dental services. The purpose of this study was to describe: (1) preventive methods reported by hygienists in child dental care in Norway and (2) changes in preventive care during the 9-year period 1995 to 2004. Questionnaires were sent to all dental hygienists in the public dental services in Norway in 1995 and 2004; 70% (199 of 286) were returned in 1995 and 71% (210 of 297) in 2004. The hygienists considered one-third of children to be at risk of caries and spent 45 min of preventive care on these children every 16th month, while the remaining children were given 15 min of prevention every 20th month. One-third of the hygienists provided fluoride varnish for all children and one-fourth placed sealants routinely. Ninety percent of the hygienists reported that all children were given information on diet, hygiene, and fluoride. Most of the preventive practices of dental hygienists reflected limited changes in the period 1995 to 2004. However, the hygienists had reduced the use of fluoride varnishes and less often recommended fluoride tablets. The majority of hygienists reported that they individualized clinical prevention, while individual oral health information was standardized and given to all children. The results indicate that in 2004 a preventive approach combining individual information for all with intensified clinical prevention for children considered at risk was followed in child dental care.