Reducing Dental Carious Lesions During the First Three Years of Life: An Inter-professional Approach

Objectives: The RCT tested an integrated intervention program (IIP) performed by nurses and dentists aiming to prevetn early childhood caries.
Methods: Age-specific oral health related information and activity record cards (OHRIAC) were developed and validated for nurses to use after being educated in oral health issues and mouth inspection. Dentists were trained in ART. The Active Intervention group (AG) consisted of IIP, the Positive control group (PG) received the OHRIAC only and the control group (CG) a lecture. The caries status was assessed according to the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST). ANOVA and the method of Tamhane were used to analyse the data.
Results: The sample consisted of 386 children with a mean age of 3.1 years.The 3-year drop-out percentage was 40.5%. The prevalence of cavitated dentine carious lesions was statistically significantly lower in the AG group (10.0%) than in the PG (59.2%) and GC (63.0%) groups (P<0.001) after 3-years. Enamel carious lesion (62.9%) was most prevalent in AG whereas in the PG group (25.0%) and GC group (23.3%) a pulpally involved tooth was scored most frequently.
Conclusions: Incorporation of specific oral healthcare activities into the existing mother-and-child healthcare program, implemented by trained nurses and supported by health centre dentists reduced the burden of dental caries in 3-year olds tremendously.