Apps for oral hygiene in children 4 to 7 years: Fun and effectiveness.

F Zotti,L Malchiodi,A Pietrobelli,M Albanese,Pf Nocini

doi:10.4317/jced.55686

F Zotti, L Malchiodi + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.4317/jced.55686

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Abstract

BackgroundNowadays apps in preschool age are largely used in learning improvement. The aim of this work was to test effectiveness of apps in improving oral hygiene in children patients aged from 4 to 7 years and evaluating correlation between parents educational attainment and children oral hygiene.Material and Methods100 patients aged from 4 to 7 years were randomly assigned by an external office in the study group (SG: 32 females, 18 males) and in the control group (CG: 28 females and 22 males). Plaque index (PI) and carious lesions localisation were detected. At baseline all patients and one of the parents were instructed at chair-side about the proper oral hygiene techniques. SG patients were also given app as an aid in oral hygiene practice. Follow-up was 12 months. Measurements were made every three months at chair-side visits. Information about children compliance in oral hygiene and educational level of parents were obtained by questionnaires at t0 and after 12 months.ResultsSG patients showed stronger oral hygiene and PI lower than those in CG. Questionnaire showed higher compliance of SG patients and parents educational level seemed to affect children oral hygiene.ConclusionsApps in children allowed achieving encouraging results with improvement of oral hygiene and health. Key words:Apps, oral hygiene compliance, children oral hygiene, motivation, educational attainment.

Highlights

Dental caries are one of the most widespread disease and they are called Early Childhood Caries (ECC) when affect subjects younger than 71 months
There are children younger than 2 years who are aware of oral hygiene techniques and who do not visit a dentist until mixed dentition with consequent impact on their oral health and expected ECC [3]
Values of Plaque index (PI) are represented as mean ± standard deviation, P values of ANOVA test for differences within groups are shown in table 2

Summary

Introduction

Dental caries are one of the most widespread disease and they are called Early Childhood Caries (ECC) when affect subjects younger than 71 months. The level of education and socio-economic status of parents often influences oral hygiene of children, as well as motivation for periodical dental visits oral health care overall [4,5,6,7]. Aim of our study was to test the effectiveness of some media on maintaining and improving oral hygiene in young patients aged from 4 to 7 years in terms of plaque index and dental caries incidence in one year of observation. The aim of this work was to test effectiveness of apps in improving oral hygiene in children patients aged from 4 to 7 years and evaluating correlation between parents educational attainment and children oral hygiene. Questionnaire showed higher compliance of SG patients and parents educational level seemed to affect children oral hygiene. Conclusions: apps in children allowed achieving encouraging results with improvement of oral hygiene and health

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