An assessment of two dental health education programmes for Scottish secondary school children

Abstract

One thousand and sixty-seven Scottish school children completed a two-year dental health education and prevention programme. The effects of an education programme utilizing a hygienist working from a dental caravan was compared with a teacher-based scheme and a control group. The hygienist group had a 20% lower incidence of dental decay. Both active groups had significantly (P < 0.01) less gingivitis than the control group at the end of the two-year study. Neither of the educational programmes achieved marked success, but the active groups, especially the hygienist group, had a greater understanding of how fluoride worked, realised that controlling the frequency of sweet-eating was important and knew how to control gingivitis. The teacher-based programme was approximately two-thirds cheaper than the one organized by the hygienist. Neither scheme, unless modified, could be recommended either clinically or economically.