Abstract
BackgroundThis study seeks to determine if implementing a culturally-appropriate early childhood caries (ECC) intervention reduces dental disease burden and oral health inequalities among Indigenous children living in South Australia, Australia.Methods/DesignThis paper describes the study protocol for a randomised controlled trial conducted among Indigenous children living in South Australia with an anticipated sample of 400. The ECC intervention consists of four components: (1) provision of dental care; (2) fluoride varnish application to the teeth of children; (3) motivational interviewing and (4) anticipatory guidance. Participants are randomly assigned to two intervention groups, immediate (n = 200) or delayed (n = 200). Provision of dental care (1) occurs during pregnancy in the immediate intervention group or when children are 24-months in the delayed intervention group. Interventions (2), (3) and (4) occur when children are 6-, 12- and 18-months in the immediate intervention group or 24-, 30- and 36-months in the delayed intervention group. Hence, all participants receive the ECC intervention, though it is delayed 24 months for participants who are randomised to the control-delayed arm. In both groups, self-reported data will be collected at baseline (pregnancy) and when children are 24- and 36-months; and child clinical oral health status will be determined during standardised examinations conducted at 24- and 36-months by two calibrated dental professionals.DiscussionExpected outcomes will address whether exposure to a culturally-appropriate ECC intervention is effective in reducing dental disease burden and oral health inequalities among Indigenous children living in South Australia.
Highlights
This study seeks to determine if implementing a culturally-appropriate early childhood caries (ECC) intervention reduces dental disease burden and oral health inequalities among Indigenous children living in South Australia, Australia
Expected outcomes will address whether exposure to a culturally-appropriate ECC intervention is effective in reducing dental disease burden and oral health inequalities among Indigenous children living in South Australia
ECC intervention rationale The intervention undertaken in this study is comprised of four approaches reported to successfully prevent early childhood caries: dental care provided during pregnancy [10,11]; fluoride varnish applied to the teeth of children [12,13,14,15]; motivational interviewing [16,17,18]; and anticipatory guidance [19,20,21,22]
Summary
Childhood caries (ECC) Early childhood caries is the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth in children aged 71 months (5 years) or younger [1]. ECC intervention rationale The intervention undertaken in this study is comprised of four approaches reported to successfully prevent early childhood caries: dental care provided during pregnancy [10,11]; fluoride varnish applied to the teeth of children [12,13,14,15]; motivational interviewing [16,17,18]; and anticipatory guidance [19,20,21,22]. Aim and hypotheses This study seeks to determine if implementing a culturally-appropriate early childhood caries (ECC) intervention reduces dental disease burden and oral health inequalities among Indigenous children living in South Australia, Australia. The South Australian study described in this paper is part of a larger investigation including research teams in New Zealand and Canada; we will compare findings when they become available
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