Effectiveness of standard and play-based oral health promotion programs in preschool children

Backgound: Oral health promotion in early childhood is essential for establishing proper hygiene and nutritional habits. Traditional educational approaches often prove insufficient for ensuring sustainable behavioral change. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of a standard oral health promotion program compared to one incorporating play models and audio-visual tools among preschool-aged children. Materials and methods: The study included 330 children aged 4–6 years, divided into three groups: control (n=100), standard education program (n=100), and an experimental program using play models and audio-visual tools (n=130). Baseline and follow-up examinations after 12 months assessed the DMF (T+t) index, reversible carious lesions, and oral hygiene index (OHI). Results: Children in the control group showed significant deterioration in all indicators after one year. The standard program stabilized oral health but did not lead to statistically significant improvements compared to baseline. In contrast, the experimental program resulted in significant improvements across all parameters (p<0.001), including reductions in DMF (T+t) and reversible lesions, and improved OHI. Conclusion: Interactive oral health promotion using play-based and audio-visual tools is more effective than standard education alone. Integrating such programs into kindergarten curricula, with active involvement of parents, educators, and institutions, can create sustainable improvements in children’s oral health.