Evaluation Caries Incidence of 3-Year Caries Management Program Participants

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate effect of the caries management program determined by the caries incidence in a 3-year follow-up.
Methods: The caries incidence and treatment needs of 1,512 school children aged 6-11 who participate in caries management program in Gwangju (South Korea) were assessed. Five trained dentists surveyed tooth status based on WHO criteria, the data was analyzed by comparing the results of consecutive participants and new participants. The caries management program consists of individual oral hygiene instruction, oral prophylaxis, fluoride varnish application and caries treatment including filling, canal treatment and deciduous tooth extraction in community health center and registered private dental clinic. The program started in 2014 and evaluated in 2017.
Results: The treatment need of dental filling(P<0.001), canal treatment(P=0.040), crown restoration(P=0.032) were significantly lower in consecutive participants. The number of decayed tooth in deciduous(dt) and permeant tooth(DT) were higher in new participants(P<0.001), but number of filled tooth were higher in consecutive participants(P<0.001). Number of total caries experienced tooth(dft + DMFT) were higher in new participants(P<0.001). Number of sealed tooth were higher in consecutive participants(P<0.001).
Conclusions: The caries management program for children was effective in decreasing active caries from the 3-year results and the consecutive participants were expected lower caries incidence in future.