This study was performed to investigate the effects of oral health education on kindergarten children.
The study was designed as a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pre -post test design. Data was collected from April 1st to November 30th, 2001. The total samples were sixty seven healthy kindergarten children; the experiment group consisted of thirty three and the control group was thirty four children. The experimental group received an oral health education program daily for 20 minutes for four weeks.
There was significant improvements on oral health behavior in the experimental group. Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli of the salivary variables in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group. The dmft was lower in the experimental group than the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. However it was significantly lower in the experimental group than control group over time.
Oral health education for kindergarten children showed an increase in the use of tooth paste and practicing correct tooth brush usage. Also, it decreased the rate of eating cariogenic food and had a positive effect on oral health through suppressing dental cavities.
The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of mothers' involvement in a dental health program for their elementary school children.
This study was a non-equivalent control group pre-post test design in which knowledge and behaviors related to dental health, perceived benefits and barriers, self-efficacy and plaque control scores were compared between the experimental group (n=26) for whom the dental health program included the direct involvement of the mothers, and the control group (n=24) for whom knowledge related to dental health was provided through brochures.
Scores for the experimental group in which the mothers were involved in the dental health program were significantly higher for knowledge, behaviors in dental health, self-efficacy and plaque control compared to the control group.
Results of this study suggest that mothers involvement in the dental health program is effective in reinforcing dental health enhancing behavior in elementary school children.