IADR Abstract Archives
Parental Concern About COVID-19 Transmission in the School-Based Dental Outreach Program
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the parental concerns about COVID-19 transmission and their enrolment of kindergarten children in an outreach dental service program using silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for caries control in Hong Kong during the pandemic.
Methods: In September to November 2020, an outreach dental service program using SDF for caries control invited 3- to 5-year old children in five kindergartens to participate in the program. Their parents were asked to complete a questionnaire about parental concern about the transmission of COVID-19. Dental examination and silver diamine fluoride treatment for caries control was performed in the kindergartens using standard precaution measures, including personal protective equipment. Dental caries was diagnosed at the cavitation level. SDF was then applied to carious teeth for caries arrest.
Results: Among the 1003 invited children, 789 (56% boys) children returned the completed questionnaires. Two thirds (69%) of the parents reported concerns about COVID-19. Most parents gave consent for the dental examination (94%) and for SDF treatment (87%). At the examination, 39% of the children were found to have cavitated dental caries. There was a negative association between parental concern about COVID-19 and the enrolment for SDF treatment (p=0.004). Nevertheless, the majority of the parents who reported concerns enrolled their children for SDF treatment (84%). Child’s gender, age, and caries status (yes/no) were not related to the parental concern (p>0.05). No COVID-19 transmission related to the dental outreach service was reported.
Conclusions: Although the majority of parents had concerns about COVID-19 transmission, enrolment of their children in the outreach dental service using SDF for caries control remained high during the pandemic.
Methods: In September to November 2020, an outreach dental service program using SDF for caries control invited 3- to 5-year old children in five kindergartens to participate in the program. Their parents were asked to complete a questionnaire about parental concern about the transmission of COVID-19. Dental examination and silver diamine fluoride treatment for caries control was performed in the kindergartens using standard precaution measures, including personal protective equipment. Dental caries was diagnosed at the cavitation level. SDF was then applied to carious teeth for caries arrest.
Results: Among the 1003 invited children, 789 (56% boys) children returned the completed questionnaires. Two thirds (69%) of the parents reported concerns about COVID-19. Most parents gave consent for the dental examination (94%) and for SDF treatment (87%). At the examination, 39% of the children were found to have cavitated dental caries. There was a negative association between parental concern about COVID-19 and the enrolment for SDF treatment (p=0.004). Nevertheless, the majority of the parents who reported concerns enrolled their children for SDF treatment (84%). Child’s gender, age, and caries status (yes/no) were not related to the parental concern (p>0.05). No COVID-19 transmission related to the dental outreach service was reported.
Conclusions: Although the majority of parents had concerns about COVID-19 transmission, enrolment of their children in the outreach dental service using SDF for caries control remained high during the pandemic.