The Practice of Oral Health Education Programs for Schoolteachers and the Survey of Oral Health Conditions for School Children in a Cambodian Primary School

Abstract

Dental care in Cambodia remains inadequate because of past civil wars. Additionally, oral health education is not adequately implemented, resulting in low oral health awareness, especially among children, who have a high prevalence of dental caries. This study aimed to implement a dental health education program for teachers at a primary school and to survey and analyze the oral health conditions of schoolchildren. From 2011 to 2014, oral health education workshops were held for teachers at the target school, and a questionnaire survey was conducted in 2013. Between 2011 and 2015, oral examinations were performed on a total of 2,637 children, and data were analyzed for the following: dental caries prevalence, DFT, DFT rate, and the condition of plaque adhesion, gingiva, and dental calculus deposition. Approximately 90 teachers participated in the workshops, and the questionnaire survey showed that 95.5％ of the teachers responded positively to the practice of oral health education for children. Oral examinations showed that the dental caries prevalence exceeded 90％ in each year. However, from 2011 to 2015, both DFT and DFT rate showed significantly lower values. Similarly, the condition of plaque adhesion, gingiva, and dental calculus deposition also showed significant improvements from 2013 to 2015. These results suggest that continuous work and acquisition of correct knowledge can contribute to the prevention of oral diseases. In the future, we aim to provide appropriate information to children, parents and educators and to promote oral health and well-being through the expansion of health education.