Effect of an Educational Intervention on the Knowledge and Practice Mothers of Children Regarding Dental Care

To assess the effect of an educational intervention on the knowledge and practice of mothers of children regarding dental care and to find out the association between selected sociodemographic variables and knowledge and practice of mothers of children regarding dental care.

A quasi experimental pre test post test control group design was used for the study. The sample size consisted of 100 mothers with 50 mothers each in experimental and control group, from two wards of SAT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. For the mothers in both experimental and control group, a pre test was given. After that mothers in the experimental group were given an instructional module. Brushing technique was demonstrated to them and a group teaching was conducted for them. No intervention was given to the mothers in the control group. After one week, a post test was given to both the groups using the same questionnaire.

The results showed that significant improvement was observed in the mean scores of knowledge and practice regarding dental care in the post intervention period in the experimental group. The pretest score on knowledge and practice of mothers regarding dental care was poor in both groups.

There was an association between education of mothers and knowledge regarding brushing, food habits, habits of child and practice of dental care.

Creating good dental habits is the result of a chain of communication from provider to parent to the pediatric patient. Parents and guardians, as well as other care givers, have primary responsibility for daily care and preventive service and are the stewards for creating, maintaining and passing along a good oral health routine to their children.