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Children's Oral Health Initiative program's impact on First Nations and Inuit children
Katherine Yerex1, Juyoung Lee2, Robert J Schroth2,3,4,5,6,7
1School of Dental Hygiene, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Insights
The Children's Oral Health Initiative (COHI) provided preventive dental services to Indigenous children. While overall decayed, extracted, and filled primary teeth (deft) scores did not significantly decrease, services like fluoride varnish were consistently delivered.
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.
Objective:
To review data from the Children's Oral Health Initiative (COHI) database from 2006 to 2016 to determine the impact of COHI on the oral health of registered First Nations and Inuit children in Atlantic Canada (AC), Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
Methods:
Data from the national COHI database were analysed for children ages 0 to 7 years in participating Indigenous communities. The mean age of participants and the number of children participating in COHI, receiving a first dental screening, fluoride varnish applications, sealants, and atraumatic restorative therapy were evaluated. Participants were grouped into 3 age categories (0-2, 3-5, 6-7). The decayed, extracted, and filled primary teeth (deft) scores were calculated.
Results:
Between 2006 and 2016, 80,574 children with an average age of 3.8 ±2.2 years participated in COHI in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and AC. The proportion receiving oral screenings, fluoride varnish, and sealants remained consistent over time. From 2006 to 2012, the number of participants receiving atraumatic restorative therapy increased in Saskatchewan and AC, and deft scores remained relatively stable with a marginal increase observed. This finding coincided with advancing age of children in all regions. Comparison of mean deft scores for children ages 0 to 7 years between 2006-2011 and 2012-2016 revealed an increase in Ontario and Saskatchewan. In AC, there was a significant decline in mean deft scores over the 2 time periods.
Conclusion:
While no significant decreases in deft scores were identified, the findings suggest that children participating in COHI are receiving needed preventive services such as fluoride varnish and atraumatic restorative therapy.
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