Article information
Year 2019 Volume 69 Issue 1 Page 70-82
Title:
Effect of Primary School-Based Oral Health Program and Oral Behaviors on Dental Caries among 12- and 15-Year-Old Children
Keyword(s):
Caries increment, School-based oral health program, Oral health behaviors
Abstract:
The objectives of this study were to explore the caries prevalence of 8-, 12- and 15-year-old children and
the effect of school-based oral health program, knowledge, attitude and oral behaviors on caries increment of
children from 8 to 12 and from 12 to 15 years. A longitudinal study was conducted in 704 children aged 8, 12 and
15 years old in Thepha district, Songkhla province. Children were oral examined, follow up changes in oral health
status and oral health behaviors. Data were analyzed and presented in percentage and mean. Logistic regression
was used to identify risk factors of caries increment. The results show that caries prevalence was 72.4 % in 8 years
old and increased to 92.5 % and 97.1 % in 12 and 15 years old children given the DMFT-8 year, DMFT-12 year and
DMFT-15 year of 1.7±1.5, 5.0±3.5 and 8.4±4.5, respectively. Caries increment was 7.2±6.5 surfaces/person in the
period from 8 to 12 years and increased to 8.6±6.4 surfaces/person in the period from 12 to 15 years. More than
60 % of the children had sealant, Brushing system at school—brushing together after lunch, opening the music
while brushing, teacher or student leader-supervised brushing and checking oral cleanliness after brushing—was
seldom. Logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between the caries increment8-12
with none sealant (ORadj = 1.517, 95%CI = 1.052-2.187). The caries increment12-15 associated with poor oral cleanliness
(ORadj = 2.002, 95%CI = 1.296-3.093) and none sealant (ORadj = 1.888, 95%CI = 1.217-2.930). In conclusion, children in
Thepha district had high level and increased by age of caries prevalence, caries severity and caries increment. Promoting
in oral cleanliness and sealant led to reduction of caries increment in children.