Effectiveness of the bucco-lingual technique within a school-based supervised toothbrushing program on preventing...

Area of Science:

• Community oral health interventions
• Pediatric dentistry
• Preventive dental care

Background:

• Supervised toothbrushing with fluoride dentifrice is effective in reducing caries.
• Limited data exists on the effectiveness of professional cross-brushing within community interventions.
• Assessing the bucco-lingual technique's impact on caries prevention in school programs is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a bucco-lingual cross-brushing technique in enhancing a school-based supervised toothbrushing program.
• To determine if this modified program increases caries prevention compared to standard supervised brushing.
• To assess the impact on caries incidence in a low-income, fluoridated community.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blinded, controlled community intervention trial involving 284 five-year-old children.
• Children were assigned to a control group (standard supervised brushing) or a test group (added professional cross-brushing).
• Caries incidence was recorded over 18 months, with statistical analysis using Poisson regression.

Main Results:

• A difference of 21.6 fewer lesions per 1,000 children was observed between the groups.
• Boys, who had a higher caries risk, experienced a 50% lower incidence density in the test group (p=0.016).

Conclusions:

• The modified program incorporating professional cross-brushing was effective in reducing caries among boys.
• The intervention suggests a potential for substantial reduction in dental care needs in a broader population over longer periods.