One-year outcomes and reasons for dropout in participants of the continuous dental care program of the Community Child Center in Gangnueng city / 대한구강보건학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the continuous dental care program of the Community Child Center in Gangneung city by evaluating one-year outcomes and determining the reasons for dropout. METHODS: A total of 180 children in the study group were provided with continuous dental care in 2008. The control group consisted of 131 children whose 2009 dental records from Gangneung-Wonju National University Dental Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The outcome of dental caries prevention was evaluated by prevalence rates and number of decayed teeth. The evaluation of dental care outcome was based on cost and frequency of dental care. A chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess differences between the study group and the control group. In addition, the dropout rate and the reasons for dropout by the time of dental service supply were investigated for 427 children who participated in this program in 2010. RESULTS: Dental caries prevention results of the study group were better than those of the control group, but significant differences were found only in the dt rates of girls (P<0.001). The average frequency of dental care per child in the study group was lower than that of the control group. The average cost of dental care per child was 56,910 won per boy in the study group, 124,893 won per boy in the control group, 71,657 won per girl in the study group, and 127,296 won per girl in the control group. Significant differences in dental care results were found for both boys and girls (P<0.05). The reasons for dropout were leaving the center, absence, use of another dental clinic, parents' or child's rejection of the program, and disability. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, we could logically assume that promoting oral health and reducing the cost of dental care might be achieved through the introduction of a continuous dental care program for vulnerable children and adolescents in the community.