Reducing Dental Disease through Preventive Oral Health in Rural Populations – An Evidence-based Approach

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Oral cavity is called “a diagnostic window to the body.” Early detection of dental caries, oral cancers and periodontal disease can prevent serious complications in the future. Dental caries prevalence varies based on ethnicity and socioeconomic conditions.

Objective

Few studies have looked at oral health prevention in Hispanic populations from a public health perspective. We present evidence to support preventive oral healthcare by calculating the effectiveness of sealants in reducing caries incidence in Hispanic children in south Texas.

Methodology

We surveyed parents of all 1500 students enrolled in a school district in Willacy County to collect socioeconomic and health behavior information. These results were matched with dental screening data from a school-based teledentistry program for the same schools. Mutlivariate probit models were developed to estimate the effect of sealants on dental caries. The fitted model was used to predict reduction in probability of dental caries.

Results

The response rate was 60% (n=866). Only 19% of children in our matched sample had any sealant and 43% had at least one dental caries. Almost half (49%) without any sealant had caries while 19% with a sealant had any caries. Regression models showed a strong statistically significant effect of sealant application on absence of caries in the children. Household income and parent's health insurance also had statistically significant impact on dental caries.

Conclusion

Establishing school-based sealant programs in remote areas for low-income children can reduce the burden of dental caries in Hispanic children.