Effectiveness of Oral Dental Health Education for Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: Early education on oral hygiene is crucial for establishing lifelong healthy habits. This study examines the effects of a fun oral and dental health education programme with parent participation on plaque index, gingival health and oral hygiene knowledge in children aged 4-6 years. Materials and Methods: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 80 children (40 experimental, 40 control) in four kindergartens. The intervention group received a four-week fun educational programme with parental involvement using animated films, dental models and interactive activities. The control group received a one-time oral health education session. Data were collected at baseline, one week and three months. Oral hygiene knowledge, plaque index and gingival health were assessed using standardised scales. Results: The intervention group showed significantly higher oral hygiene knowledge (F=26.767, p<0.001) and lower plaque index (F=6.774, p<0.001) and gingival problem scores (F=13.922, p<0.001) compared to the control group. Effect size analysis revealed a large effect on knowledge (T2=4.41) and a large effect on plaque index (T2=1.53) and gingival health (T2=0.88). Conclusion: The programme led to an increase in oral hygiene knowledge, improvement in plaque indices and reduction in gingival problems in children aged 4-6 years. This suggests that using gamification in health education can be an effective way to engage young children and improve health outcomes.