A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial of A Dental Health Education Programme for 10 year-old children

Objective: Using a cluster randomized trial, this study tested the effectiveness of a dental health education program designed to improve the oral hygiene and dental knowledge of 10-year-old children. Methods: Thirty-two primary schools in the northwest of England participated. After a baseline assessment of plaque and the completion of a dental knowledge questionnaire by the children, the schools were allocated randomly to active or control groups. Children in schools allocated to the active group received the dental health program, which consisted of four one-hour lessons. After four months the children were examined clinically and scored for plaque, and a second questionnaire was administered. The schools in the control group were then allocated randomly to receive the program or not over the following three months, the program being withdrawn from the schools who initially received it. A further assessment of plaque was made and a questionnaire administered seven months after the baseline of the study. Results: The active groups had 20 percent and 17 percent lower mean plaque scores than the control group at four and seven months (P