Educational Intervention in Preventing Early Childhood Caries

A Cluster-randomized Trial of the Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention in Preventing Early Childhood Caries

Objective:

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of an oral health educative intervention in preventing early childhood caries (ECC).

Methods:

The trial targets 0- to 12-month-old children and their mothers in Pelotas, Brazil. Twenty-four public health centres (clusters) were randomly selected and assigned to intervention or control group (12 clusters per intervention group). In each center, up to 30 children/mothers were selected and invited to participate in the trial. Each mother was interviewed in order to collect socio-economic and demographic variables. The intervention group received by means of a pamphlet the oral health instructions, which were emphasized with verbal instructions. Dental examination will be carried out after 1 year for all teeth surfaces to determine caries status.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children with 0 to 12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with teeth in mouth at the time of enrollment
• Children not living in Pelotas
• No sufficient information provided by the mother at the time of enrollment
• Systemic diseases