Methods: A four-arm cluster randomised controlled trial was undertaken in the northwest of England. A total of 16,864 children aged 6-9 years in 168 schools were randomly allocated to 3 test groups, which received screening according to 3 different models (‘Traditional Model', ‘New Model', ‘Dental Information Leaflet') and a control, which received no intervention.
Results: There were no significant differences in caries increment in the primary and secondary dentitions between the three test groups and the control. There were no significant differences in the proportions of children attending a dentist after screening between the control group and the three intervention arms.
Conclusions: School dental screening delivered according to three different models was ineffective at reducing levels of active caries and increasing attendance in the population under study.
Acknowledgement: The study team would wish to acknowledge the financial support of NHS North West.