An early oral health care program starting during pregnancy—a long-term study—phase V

Abstract

Objective was to analyze the effects of a long-term prevention program on dental and oral health of adolescents. The entire study was subdivided into five phases. Phase I comprised an individual preventive care during pregnancy, phase II assessed mothers and their children until the age of 3, and in phase III until the age of 6. In phase IV, 13- to 14-year-old teenagers were investigated. In phase V, 18-19-year-old adolescents were examined (18.4 ± 0.4 years, n = 26). All phases consisted of an examination, education, and treatment based on the concept of an "early oral health care promotion." The control group consisted of randomly selected adolescents of the same age (n = 35). The following clinical parameters were assessed: DMF-T/DMF-S, HI, PBI, PSI, and Streptococcus mutans/lactobacilli concentration in saliva. The adolescents of the prevention group revealed a share of 92.3 % caries-free dentition. Mean DMF-T was 1.4 ± 2.6. The control group showed a significantly higher mean DMF-T of 3.8 ± 3.2 (p < 0.05) and revealed 71.4 % of caries-free dentition. The prevention group showed a significant lower PSI of 1.2 ± 0.8 compared to the control group (2.1 ± 0.4) (p < 0.05). An "early oral health care promotion" starting during pregnancy may cause a sustained and long-term improvement of the oral health of young adults. Prevention programs starting during pregnancy may establish an improved health behavior. Caries, periodontitis, and dietary complications in mother and child can be avoided by improving maternal oral health and by a tooth-friendly diet.