Effectiveness of Oral Health Education Program using Home-using Portable Device for Children

This study was performed to determine the effectiveness of oral health education program with a home-using portable device according to the individual oral health status in children. 58 children who were 6 12 years old were included in this study. All subjects were affiliated to moderate or high caries risk group based on caries risk test. They were divided into 2 groups: (I) home-using portable device group (II) control group. Both groups were evaluated with simple plaque score (SPS) using camera type quantitative light-induced fluorescence device and educated with identical oral health education methods. Subjects in group I were demanded to use a home-using portable device. After 1 month, both groups were re-evaluated. Cariview score that can reflect the acidogenic potential of plaque bacteria was statistically reduced in both groups (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between two groups in the change of Cariview score (p = 0.022). In group I, the decrease was larger than that in group II. There was no statistically significant difference in the change of SPS (p = 0.937). Oral health education improved oral hygiene status in children. However, this study confirmed that it was much more effective to improve oral health status in children with a home-using portable device in their daily oral hygiene care.