title: A cluster randomized controlled trial of a dental health education program for 10-year-old children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Using a cluster randomized trial, this study tested the effectiveness of a dental health education program designed to improve the oral hygiene and dental knowledge of 10-year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two primary schools in the northwest of England participated. After a baseline assessment of plaque and the completion of a dental knowledge questionnaire by the children, the schools were allocated randomly to active or control groups. Children in schools allocated to the active group received the dental health program, which consisted of four one-hour lessons. After four months the children were examined clinically and scored for plaque, and a second questionnaire was administered. The schools in the control group were then allocated randomly to receive the program or not over the following three months, the program being withdrawn from the schools who initially received it. A further assessment of plaque was made and a questionnaire administered seven months after the baseline of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The active groups had 20 percent and 17 percent lower mean plaque scores than the control group at four and seven months (P < .001). The children's knowledge of which type of toothbrush should be used and the role of disclosing tablets improved in the initial test group when compared with the control group and this was retained over the second part of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The children receiving the program had significantly lower mean plaque scores and greater knowledge about toothbrushes and disclosing tablets than the control children who had not received the program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health and Development, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, England.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Worthington
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Blinkhorn
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects; D004739:England; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D019422:Dietary Sucrose