| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 2 | Page : 70-73 |
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Effectiveness of school dental screening on stimulating dental attendance rates in Vikarabad town: A randomized controlled trial
Gadde Praveen1, Mohammad Shakeel Anjum2, P Parthasarathi Reddy2, M Monica2, K Yadav Rao2, Muhammad Zabirunnisa Begum1
1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India
2 Department of Public Health Dentistry,Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, Telangana, India
Correspondence Address:
Gadde Praveen
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram 534 202, Andhra Pradesh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2319-5932.140249
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Background: The school dental screening program has been in existence from the beginning of 20 th century. Its value in encouraging attendance among school children is not fully established. Aim: The aim was to determine the effectiveness of school dental screening on stimulating dental attendance rates among school children in Vikarabad town. Objectives: (a) To compare the dental attendance rates between 6-9 and 10-13 years old age groups, among male and female school children in Vikarabad town. (b) To identify the type of dental treatment received by the school children. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among school children aged 6-13 years old from 16 schools that were randomly selected and divided into two groups. Eight schools had a dental screening program (study group = 300 children) and had blanket referral cards and 8 schools that did not have the intervention (control group = 300). The dental attendance rates were determined after 3 months of follow-up period by evaluating the blanket referral cards for the study group and by an oral questionnaire for the control group. Results: The dental attendance rate was 27% for the study group and 18% for the control group which is statistically significant. The attendance rate was higher among 10-13 years of children both in test group and control groups. Among the children who visited the dentist, 53% in the control group and 69% from the test group got simple amalgam and glass ionomer cement restorations. Conclusion: The dental attendance rates were improved following school dental screening. |
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