School based oral health promotional intervention: Effect on knowledge, practices and clinical oral health related parameters

BACKGROUND: No organized school oral health program is existent in India. AIM: The aim of this study is to test the feasibility and efficacy of an economical school oral health promotional intervention with educational and preventive components. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: School oral health promotional intervention carried out in one of the randomly selected school and evaluated through short duration prospective model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 children with an age range of 10-12 years with no previous history of dental intervention were enrolled. Interventions comprised of oral health education (delivered through lecture and demonstrations by an undergraduate dental student) and topical antibacterial therapy (fluoride varnish and povidone iodine). Outcomes consisted of Knowledge and practices (KAP) regarding oral health, clinical oral health related parameters such as plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and caries activity as per Modified Snyder's test. These were reported at baseline, 3 weeks and 6 months follow-up examination by a calibrated examiner. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: McNemar Bowker's test, Student's t-test, Pearson Chi-square tests were used. RESULTS: Highly significant (P < 0.001) improvements in KAP scores, PI scores, GI scores and caries activity were reported at 3 weeks and 6 months follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: This small economical school oral health program positively influenced oral health related practices and parameters of oral health such as oral cleanliness, gingival health and caries activity.