Clinical application of WeChat applet in caries prevention among 5-year-old children

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of WeChat applet on caries prevention of 5-year-old children, and to provide reference for the application of new technology in the prevention of dental caries in children.

Methods Five-year-old children with high caries risk from Pediatrics Dentistry of Hefei Stomatological Hospital were randomly recruited and divided into experimental group ( n = 64) and control group ( n = 59) during August to October 2021. The control group received routine oral health education, while the experimental group received tooth brushing reminders and video push notifications of oral health education. Caries risk, plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), decayed missing filled tooth (dmft), decayed missing filled tooth surface (dmfts) as well as oral health knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) score of guardians were compared between the two groups 6 months after intervention.

Results At six months after intervention, the percentage of children with high caries risk in the experimental group (14.06%) was significantly lower than that of the control group (67.80%) ( Z = −5.85, P<0.05). The PLI in the experimental group [1(1, 2)] was significantly lower than that of the control group [2(2, 3)]. The dmfts of children in the experimental group (12.17±8.30) was significantly lower than that of the control group (15.18±6.24). The oral health KAP score of the guardians in the experimental group [78(74, 81)] was significantly higher than that of the control group [68(63, 71)] ( Z/t = −6.67, −2.29, 8.94, P<0.05).

Conclusion The integration of WeChat applet technology into oral health education can effectively improve oral health condition of children and enhance the oral health KAP of guardians.

Abstract

【摘要】 目的 评估基于微信小程序的口腔卫生宣教对 5 岁儿童龋病预防的临床效果, 为新技术应用于儿童龋病的预防 提供参考。 方法 选取 2021 年 8—10 月于合肥市口腔医院儿童口腔科就诊的 123 例 5 岁高龋活性乳牙列儿童, 由随机数 字表分为实验组 (64 名) 和对照组 (59 名)。对照组接受常规口腔卫生宣教, 实验组在对照组基础上应用微信小程序接收 刷牙提醒及口腔宣教视频推送。比较干预后 3 个月、干预后 6 个月两组儿童的患龋风险、菌斑指数、牙龈指数、龋失补牙面 数、龋失补牙数、监护人口腔健康知信行状况。 结果 干预后 6 个月, 高患龋风险儿童比例实验组 (14.06%) 低于对照组 (67.80%) ( Z =−5.85, P<0.05); 菌斑指数实验组 [1(1, 2)] 低于对照组 [2(2,3)], 龋失补牙面数实验组 (12.17±8.30) 低于 对照组 (15.18±6.24), 监护人口腔健康知信行得分实验组 [78(74,81)] 高于对照组 [68(63,71)], 差异均有统计学意义 ( Z/t 值分别为 −6.67, −2.29, 8.94, P 值均<0.05)。 结论 应用微信小程序进行口腔卫生宣教可有效降低儿童患龋风险, 改善儿 童口腔卫生情况, 提高监护人口腔健康知信行状况。