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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Assessment of Oral Health Promotion Programs in Schools and their Long-Term Effects
Tamalika Chakraborty1, Anitha Munigala2, Tejaswi Kala3
1Intern, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
School-based oral health programs significantly reduced dental caries in children aged 6-12. These initiatives improved oral hygiene habits, demonstrating their long-term effectiveness for children's dental health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Health Promotion
Background:
- School-based oral health promotion is vital for children and adolescents.
- The long-term effectiveness of these programs requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term efficacy of a school-based oral health promotion program.
- To assess the impact on dental caries prevalence and oral hygiene practices in children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study involving 500 children aged 6-12 years.
- Two groups: intervention (comprehensive program) and control (basic information).
- Data collected at baseline and every 6 months for 2 years.
Main Results:
- Intervention group showed a significant reduction in dental caries prevalence (15.2% vs. 23.6%, P < 0.001) at 12 months.
- Improved oral hygiene habits observed in the intervention group, including reduced plaque index and increased brushing frequency (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- School-based oral health initiatives are effective in improving long-term dental health outcomes for children.
- These programs are crucial for reducing dental caries and promoting good oral hygiene.
- Sustained investment is necessary for the dental well-being of future generations.
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