Children's Oral Health Initiative program's impact on First Nations and Inuit children

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• The Children's Oral Health Initiative (COHI) database provides valuable data on the oral health of Indigenous children in Canada.
• Understanding the impact of public health programs is crucial for improving child dental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Children's Oral Health Initiative (COHI) on the oral health of First Nations and Inuit children.
• To analyze trends in preventive dental services and decayed, extracted, and filled primary teeth (deft) scores from 2006 to 2016.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the national COHI database for children aged 0-7 years in Atlantic Canada, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
• Calculation of decayed, extracted, and filled primary teeth (deft) scores and evaluation of participation in screenings, fluoride varnish, and atraumatic restorative therapy.

Main Results:

• Over 80,000 children participated between 2006-2016. Preventive service delivery remained consistent.
• Atraumatic restorative therapy increased in Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada; deft scores showed a marginal increase with age.
• Mean deft scores increased in Ontario and Saskatchewan but significantly declined in Atlantic Canada between 2006-2011 and 2012-2016.

Conclusions:

• The study indicates consistent delivery of preventive dental services like fluoride varnish and atraumatic restorative therapy through COHI.
• While significant reductions in deft scores were not universally observed, the initiative ensured access to essential oral care for Indigenous children.