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Journals / Ahi Evran Tıp Dergisi / 2025 / Volume: 9 Issue: 3

Effectiveness of Oral Dental Health Education for Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Okul Öncesi Çocuklarına Verilen Ağız Diş Sağlığı Eğitiminin Etkinliği: Randomize Kontrollü Çalışma

Nesrin Arslan(KARABÜK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-8481-8907
Mihriban Gökcek Taraç(KARABÜK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-3960-8518
Pages
—
Publication Date
2025-12-22
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This suggests that using gamification in health education can be an effective way to engage young children and improve health outcomes.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Purpose: Early education on oral hygiene is crucial for establishing lifelong healthy habits.
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Key Findings & Data:This study examines the effects of a fun oral and dental health education programme with parent participation on plaque index, gingival health and oral hygiene knowledge in children aged 4-6 years.
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Conclusion & Impact:This suggests that using gamification in health education can be an effective way to engage young children and improve health outcomes.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:early childhood · oral health · plaque index

Abstract

Purpose: Early education on oral hygiene is crucial for establishing lifelong healthy habits. This study examines the effects of a fun oral and dental health education programme with parent participation on plaque index, gingival health and oral hygiene knowledge in children aged 4-6 years. Materials and Methods: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 80 children (40 experimental, 40 control) in four kindergartens. The intervention group received a four-week fun educational programme with parental involvement using animated films, dental models and interactive activities. The control group received a one-time oral health education session. Data were collected at baseline, one week and three months. Oral hygiene knowledge, plaque index and gingival health were assessed using standardised scales. Results: The intervention group showed significantly higher oral hygiene knowledge (F=26.767, p<0.001) and lower plaque index (F=6.774, p<0.001) and gingival problem scores (F=13.922, p<0.001) compared to the control group. Effect size analysis revealed a large effect on knowledge (T2=4.41) and a large effect on plaque index (T2=1.53) and gingival health (T2=0.88). Conclusion: The programme led to an increase in oral hygiene knowledge, improvement in plaque indices and reduction in gingival problems in children aged 4-6 years. This suggests that using gamification in health education can be an effective way to engage young children and improve health outcomes.

Özet

Amaç: Ağız hijyeni konusunda erken eğitim, yaşam boyu sağlıklı alışkanlıkların oluşturulması için çok önemlidir. Bu çalışma, ebeveyn katılımlı eğlenceli bir ağız ve diş sağlığı eğitim programının 4-6 yaş arası çocuklarda plak indeksi, diş eti sağlığı ve ağız hijyeni bilgisi üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektedir. Araçlar ve Yöntem: Dört anaokulunda 80 çocukla (40 deney, 40 kontrol) küme randomize kontrollü bir çalışma yürütülmüştür. Müdahale grubuna animasyon filmler, dental modeller ve interaktif aktiviteler kullanılarak ebeveyn katılımlı dört haftalık eğlenceli bir eğitim programı verilmiştir. Kontrol grubuna ise bir kerelik ağız sağlığı eğitimi verilmiştir. Veriler başlangıçta, bir haftada ve üç ayda toplanmıştır. Ağız hijyeni bilgisi, plak indeksi ve dişeti sağlığı standartlaştırılmış ölçekler kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Müdahale grubu, kontrol grubuna kıyasla anlamlı derecede daha yüksek oral hijyen bilgisi (F=26.767, p<0.001) ve daha düşük plak indeksi (F=6.774, p<0.001) ve dişeti problemi skorları (F=13.922, p<0.001) göstermiştir. Etki büyüklüğü analizi, bilgi (T2=4.41) üzerinde büyük bir etki ve plak indeksi (T2=1.53) ve dişeti sağlığı (T2=0.88) üzerinde büyük bir etki ortaya koymuştur. Sonuç: Program, 4-6 yaş arası çocuklarda ağız hijyeni bilgisinde artışa, plak indekslerinde iyileşme ve diş eti sorunlarında azalma sağlamıştır. Bu durum, sağlık eğitiminde oyunlaştırmanın kullanılmasının küçük çocukların ilgisini çekmek ve sağlık sonuçlarını iyileştirmek için etkili bir yol olabileceğini göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Arslan, N., Taraç, M. G. (2025). Effectiveness of Oral Dental Health Education for Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ahi Evran Tıp Dergisi, Volume: 9 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1559669

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