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. 2021 Apr 15;11(2):198-206.
doi: 10.4103/jispcd.JISPCD_426_20. eCollection 2021 Mar-Apr.

Comparative Study of Oral Health Education Given by a Dentist and Schoolteachers in Thai Grade 3 Students

Wannakorn Sriarj  1 , Pattarin Potisomporn  2 , Waleerat Sukarawan  1
Affiliations

Comparative Study of Oral Health Education Given by a Dentist and Schoolteachers in Thai Grade 3 Students

Wannakorn Sriarj et al. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. .

Abstract

Objectives: To compare children's knowledge and attitudes toward oral health (OH) and plaque score after receiving OH education (OHE) from a dentist or trained schoolteachers.

Materials and methods: Third-grade students in Amphoe Meuang, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand (n = 652), were randomly divided into a dentist group (n = 217), a teacher group (n = 216), and a control group (n = 219). The students' OH knowledge, attitudes, and plaque scores before the intervention were collected as baseline data. The dentist and the teacher groups received additional OH education sessions by a dentist and trained schoolteachers, respectively. Their immediate post-test knowledge was evaluated after each session, and plaque scores were determined after the brushing session. All groups continued a monthly tooth brushing activity for two months. The final assessment was done at the three-month follow-up.

Results: The students who received additional OHE by either a dentist or teacher demonstrated improved knowledge and attitudes towards OH, including plaque score. Interestingly, at the three-month follow-up, the knowledge score in the teacher group was significantly higher than in the dentist group. However, the dentist group had a significantly lower plaque score compared with the teacher group.

Conclusions: Additional OHE in school significantly improved students' OH knowledge and positive attitudes regardless of the provider. However, the teacher tends to have a greater impact on their students; thus after appropriate training, schoolteachers can be efficient OH educators, especially in the long term.

Keywords: Attitudes; dentist; knowledge; oral health education; school teacher.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant flow
Figure 2
Figure 2
Diagram of the study design
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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