Assessing the Effectiveness of Oral and Dental Health Education Programs for Children

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions designed to promote and reinforce oral and dental health behaviors in children.
Methods: The study was carried out on 2nd-grade primary school students (n=732) and 6th-grade secondary school students (n=532). Following the approval of the ethics committee, an oral and dental health education program was delivered to the participants. Pre-education assessments were administered to establish baseline knowledge, followed by post-education assessments to evaluate the impact of the intervention. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, employing chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests for statistical evaluation.
Results: Among the primary school participants, 48.6% were female and 51.4% were male, while the secondary school cohort comprised 49.2% female and 50.8% male students. The mean total score for primary school students was 7.57±1.82 in the pre-test and increased to 8.75±1.91 in the post-test, with 63.7% of participants (n=466) demonstrating improved post-test scores. Similarly, for secondary school students, the mean total score was 7.32±1.63 in the pre-test and increased to 8.73±1.68 in the post-test, with 70.5% of participants (n=375) showing an increase in their scores.
Conclusions: Childhood is a critical period for establishing lifelong oral and dental health habits. Poor oral health during childhood can lead to adverse systemic health outcomes, affecting overall quality of life. This study highlights the significant impact of educational interventions on improving oral health knowledge and behaviors among children, emphasizing the importance of early, targeted educational programs. By demonstrating measurable improvements in oral health awareness and practices, this research underscores the value of integrating such interventions into school curricula. Extending this study to a broader population is anticipated to play a significant role in the widespread prevention of oral and dental health issues, contributing to improved public health outcomes.