Dental outreach service for ethnic minority young children

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this community health project was to improve the oral health of ethnic minority young children in Hong Kong by providing outreach dental services to complement the current inadequate coverage of dental care services. Methods: Outreach dental services were delivered in the Yuen Long Town Hall, Hong Kong, on 27th February to 1st March 2023. The project consisted of a parental questionnaire survey, provision of dental examination and treatments for the children, and oral health education for the parents. Information on the children’s medical and dental history, dental habits, and parents’ perspective on their child’s dental health conditions was collected using a questionnaire. Dental treatments including fluoride vanish, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application and Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) were provided, if indicated. Results: A total of 131 ethnic minority children participated in the project, and 127 children received dental examination and/or treatment successfully. Most (64.4%) of the examined children dental caries experience (dmft>0). Their mean decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) score was 3.74.1. A total of 99 children received dental treatments including fluoride varnish (n=48), SDF application (n=61), and/or ART restorations (n=45). Specifically, 293 teeth with caries lesions received SDF treatment and 96 ART restorations were placed. Majority (63.4%) of the parents reported their child had not seen a dentist before participation in this project. Most (64.9%) of the parents reported that their child brushed teeth two times or more every day, while the other children were reported to brush teeth once a day (31.3%) or less frequent (3.8%). Among the 71 parents who reported their child had no dental problems, dental caries was found in 28 (39.4%) of their children. Conclusion: In our project, we successfully delivered dental examinations and treatments for the decayed primary teeth of the participant ethnic minority young children, and their parents were provided with oral health education and related information.