A Kindergarten-Based Oral Health Preventive Approach for Hong Kong Preschool Children

Abstract

Early childhood caries (ECC) remains the single most common chronic childhood disease. Untreated caries can cause tooth loss and compromised dentition. Severe ECC can also influence nutrition intake, cognitive development, general health and quality of life. In Hong Kong, approximately half of 5-year-old children suffer from ECC, and more than 90% of these caries remain untreated. Thus, the development of effective strategies for promoting the oral health of preschool children is warranted. The Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Hong Kong has provided kindergarten-based dental outreach services to selected kindergartens since 2008. In 2020, the project expanded to serve all kindergarten children in Hong Kong. The aim of the service is to improve oral health through the prevention and control of ECC among preschool children. The service provides dental screening and silver diamine fluoride treatment for ECC management. In addition, the parents receive oral health talks, and teachers receive training in delivering regular oral health education at kindergarten. The objectives of this service are to improve oral and general health of preschool children, develop the children’s good oral health-related behaviours, maintain the children’s psychological well-being and reduce the burden on their family. This paper describes this kindergarten-based dental outreach service.

Dental Caries and Associated Factors in 3–5-Year-Old Children in Guizhou Province, China: An Epidemiological Survey (2015–2016)

“…However, the trend of change of caries in deciduous teeth during the decade of 2005–2015 in Beijing faced a rapid increase where the rate of caries was curbed after intervention ( 14 ). Moreover, the caries prevalence of 5-year-old children in Hong Kong showed a trend of change from the peak value of 63–51% during the 14 years of 1993–2017, and then a small increase to 55% ( 15 ). The experience of oral healthcare service programs for preschool children in Beijing and Hong Kong suggests that ECC can be reduced by effective caries prevention measures, but it is a slow and long-term process ( 15 ).…”

“…Moreover, the caries prevalence of 5-year-old children in Hong Kong showed a trend of change from the peak value of 63–51% during the 14 years of 1993–2017, and then a small increase to 55% ( 15 ). The experience of oral healthcare service programs for preschool children in Beijing and Hong Kong suggests that ECC can be reduced by effective caries prevention measures, but it is a slow and long-term process ( 15 ). The caries situation of the younger children in Guizhou Province has been more serious, and the prevention and treatment of caries in deciduous teeth should be granted attention from early childhood.…”

Tooth-Supported Prosthodontic Rehabilitation of a Child with Mutilated Dentition: An Interdisciplinary Approach

“…Children with S-ECC were more likely to have poor physical, mental, and social functioning as compared to caries-free children. [1,13] rehabilitation for children with multiple un-restorable teeth is a viable treatment option in young children to provide esthetic, phonetic, and masticatory units and to prevent psychological trauma. [9,14] The phenomenon of catch-up growth has been reported to occur in children, whose growth had been slowed down by malnutrition following the complete dental intervention.…”

“…Severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) is highly prevalent globally and pose serious consequences for the child's quality of life. [1][2][3] The consequences of untreated S-ECC include multiple episodes of dental pain and infections, poor mastication, delayed physical growth and development, hypoplasia of developing permanent teeth, loss of school days, hampered learning, and compromised self-esteem. [1][2][3][4][5] Also, a child with ECC is more likely to suffer 10% increased odds of undernutrition with each deep carious tooth.…”

“…[1][2][3] The consequences of untreated S-ECC include multiple episodes of dental pain and infections, poor mastication, delayed physical growth and development, hypoplasia of developing permanent teeth, loss of school days, hampered learning, and compromised self-esteem. [1][2][3][4][5] Also, a child with ECC is more likely to suffer 10% increased odds of undernutrition with each deep carious tooth. [6] Treatment of S-ECC is complex, expensive, and due to high caries risk relapses after treatments are common in children managed for S-ECC.…”