Outreach Caries Control Service for kindergarten children in Hong Kong

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A recent government oral health survey reported dental caries was prevalent among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Most of them had never visited a dentist and almost all dental caries were left untreated. Clinical studies have showed that silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is effective in preventing and arresting dental caries among young children. AIM: This project aims to set up an outreach dental service to prevent and to control dental caries among kindergarten children in Hong Kong. METHOD: Twenty kindergartens were invited to join this service project. Invitation letters describing the project aims and procedures were sent to parents of kindergarten children. Parental consents were obtained. Oral examination was performed in the kindergarten by trained dentists using intra-oral LED lights and disposable dental mirrors. SDF was applied onto caries lesions which had no signs of pulpal involvement to arrest the caries. Children who required endodontic care or extraction were referred to community dental clinics. Kindergarten teachers were trained to deliver oral health education to the children. Follow-up will be performed every six months until the children enter primary schools where they can join the government school dental care service. RESULTS: This project commenced in March 2009 and twenty kindergartens were recruited. All parents gave consent to allow their children to join this project. By April 2009, 657 children in 7 kindergartens have been examined. About half of them (47%) had dental caries and their mean dmft score was 1.4. No post-treatment complication has been reported. The training in provision of oral health education was well received by kindergarten teachers. CONCLUSION: An outreach dental caries control service has been successfully set up. It has been well received by the kindergarten teachers, and children and their parents.