Changing Habits tO Prevent ChIld CariEs (CHOICE): a randomised controlled trial of a family-focused therapeutic conversation delivered by dental nurses in primary care
Tooth decay
CHOICE is designed as a two-arm randomised controlled trial and aims to compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the behavioural intervention DR-BNI in addition to usual care in 3-7-year-old children versus usual care. Participants will be given a dental pack following consent that includes a 'thank you leaflet', a toothbrush and toothpaste. An assessment of the participant against the eligibility criteria will be performed and full eligibility will be confirmed. Participant demographic and socio-economic data will be collected. A number of questionnaires will be completed by the parent/primary caregiver. The participant will then be randomised into one of two groups, the ‘intervention’ group or the ‘control’ group. The completion of questionnaires and randomisation can occur at the initial visit or at the subsequent visit. If the participant is allocated to the intervention group, the parent/primary caregiver will meet with the dental nurse for approximately 30 minutes. This can be done at the initial visit or at another time that is convenient for the parent/primary caregiver; however must be within 12 weeks of randomisation. During this visit, the parent/primary caregiver will learn about how to prevent further tooth decay in their child. The dental nurse will support parents/primary caregivers and help to identify areas of their home life that can be changed, and will set goals that will achieve this. After this visit the patient will receive the usual dental care. If the participant has been put into the ‘control’ group, then they will just receive their usual dental care. At 12 and 24 months, parents/primary caregivers will be asked to complete the same questionnaires that were completed at the initial visit. These can be completed electronically, posted out to be completed at home, or completed over the phone. Questions related to safety will also be included in the questionnaire pack. Dental treatment and dental pain will also be reco
Current inclusion criteria as of 21/05/2025: 1. Child has caries experience: 1.1. At least one carious lesion into dentine, AND/OR 1.2. At least one restoration (filling) for treatment of caries, AND/OR 1.3. At least one extraction for treatment of caries 2. Aged ≥3 years and <8 years at the time of randomisation 3. Child is receiving NHS dental care 4. The intervention can be received in a comprehensible way by the child’s parent/primary caregiver 5. Written and informed consent obtained from the child’s parent/primary caregiver and agreement to comply with the requirements of the study 6. The child is reported by the parent as having at least one current oral health risk behaviour (confirmed at eligibility) Previous inclusion criteria: 1. Child has at least one carious lesion into dentine 2. Aged ≥3 years and <8 years at the time of randomisation 3. Child is receiving NHS dental care 4. The intervention can be received in a comprehensible way by the child’s parent/primary caregiver 5. Written and informed consent obtained from the child’s parent/primary caregiver and agreement to comply with the requirements of the study
Current exclusion criteria as of 21/05/2025: Child is living in the same household as someone already recruited to the CHOICE Trial Previous exclusion criteria: 1. Child presents with advanced caries that require referral for extractions 2. Child presents with only arrested carious lesions into dentine in primary teeth [arrested as defined within national epidemiological criteria] 3. Child is living in the same household as someone already recruited to the CHOICE Trial