Extrait

Background and study aims In the UK, an increasing number of children suffering from tooth decay are being treated under general anaesthesia in hospitals every year. In addition, reports have suggested that almost one quarter of these children end up needing the same treatment again despite proper examination and rigorous treatment. Dental problems is one of the most common reasons for young people being admitted to hospital in the UK. Treating tooth decay under general anaesthesia usually involves multiple tooth extractions and is both costly and distressing. It is also entirely preventable with good oral hygiene and by cutting down on sugary food and drinks. Research done by King's College London has shown that giving advice to children and their parents on how to prevent further tooth decay during the medical pre-assessment visit (a visit prior to the surgery to ensure the child is fit for it) might be considered both acceptable and helpful. Using interactive media as a teaching aid has been suggested by parents as something that would appeal to children. The aim of this study is to compare being given oral health advice through a computer interactive game with being given the same advice verbally by a dental nurse. Who can participate? Children between the ages of four and ten due to have tooth extractions under general anaesthesia, accompanied by their parents. What does the study involve? Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in group 1 are given advice on oral hygiene in the form of a computer game. Group 2 are given the same advice verbally from an oral hygiene trained dental nurse. Both groups also receive fluoride varnish treatment, which has been proven to provide extra protection against tooth decay when used in addition to daily brushing. All children and parents taking part are asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding their diet and dietary knowledge before and after being given advice. Children are also asked to take home tooth brushing and snack diaries to see how they look after their teeth. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? A possible benefit of taking part is a greater knowledge of good oral hygiene. There are no anticipated risks. We will follow ethical and legal practice and all information about the participants will be handled in confidence and will remain anonymous throughout. Where is the study run from? Kings College Dental Institute (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? October 2013 to December 2014 Who is funding the study? Kings College London (UK) Who is the main contact? Professor Marie Hosey [email protected]

Critère d'inclusion

• Disease: Dental caries
• Domain: Preventive dentistry

Liens

• isrctn
• ictrp