Brief Interventions for Tooth Decay

Overseen By Seth J Scholer, MD, MPH

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how brief educational sessions can help manage child behavior and prevent cavities. Participants will receive two minutes of education on either child behavior management or cavity prevention. One group will receive free resources, another will receive a handbook, and a third group will focus on cavity prevention with a Cavity Prevention Handout. Parents with children aged 9 months to 3 years are well-suited for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for parents to contribute to research that could enhance strategies for child health education.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that educational activities and handouts safely help manage children's behavior and prevent cavities. The "Cavity Prevention Handout" provides information about tooth decay, a common dental issue, and offers simple tips to prevent cavities, such as reducing sugar intake and maintaining oral hygiene. This educational material is non-invasive and has not been associated with any negative effects.

The "Play Nicely" program includes brief sessions that teach strategies for managing children's behavior, focusing on positive behavior techniques. Similar educational activities are generally well-received and have no known risks.

Overall, both activities in this trial are low-risk. They aim to share knowledge, which is a safe and effective way to encourage healthy habits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these approaches to managing tooth decay because they focus on education and behavior change rather than traditional methods like fluoride treatments or dental sealants. The first two methods, "Child behavior management - free resources" and "Child behavior management - handbook," offer quick, two-minute educational sessions about managing children's behavior, combined with free resources and, in one case, a handbook. This is a unique angle that aims to improve dental health by fostering better habits in kids. The "Cavity Prevention" method also provides two minutes of education but focuses directly on cavity prevention strategies, supported by a handy two-page guide. These methods are innovative because they empower parents and children with knowledge and resources, potentially preventing tooth decay before it starts.

What evidence suggests that these brief interventions could be effective for preventing tooth decay?

This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions for preventing tooth decay. Participants will receive either a "Cavity Prevention Handout" or "Play Nicely" resources. Studies have shown that teaching kids about dental care can help prevent cavities. Research indicates that applying fluoride varnish can reduce cavities in baby teeth by about one-third, and drinking water with fluoride has been linked to fewer cavities. A scientific approach to preventing cavities, which includes checking for risks and taking preventive steps, has also successfully reduced tooth decay. While the current trial focuses on educational handouts, these methods have proven effective in similar situations. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Seth J Scholer, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for parents of children aged 9 months to 3 years. It aims to help them with childhood behavior issues and cavity prevention in their kids.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a parent of a child aged 9 months to 3 years.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Educational Intervention

Participants receive a brief educational intervention in the examination room before the clinic visit

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Survey Follow-up

Participants complete a brief survey immediately after the clinic visit and another survey in 2-4 months

2-4 months

2 surveys (remote)

Long-term Follow-up

Follow-up health and insurance records related to the study interventions are reviewed

3 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cavity Prevention Handout
• Play Nicely

Trial Overview

The study is testing two brief educational interventions: 'Play Nicely' program for managing child behavior, and a handout with tips on preventing cavities.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Child behavior management - handbook Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Two minutes of education about child behavior management coupled with free resources and a handbook

Group II: Child behavior management - free resources Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Two minutes of education about child behavior management coupled with free resources.

Group III: Cavity Prevention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Two minutes of education about how to prevent cavities coupled with a 2 page handout.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

922

Recruited

939,000+

Citations

1.

veenstradental.com

veenstradental.com/blog/sealant-application-related-statistics-on-cavity-prevention-in-children-and-adults

Related Statistics on Cavity Prevention in Children and ...

What is the success rate of dental sealants in preventing cavities? Dental sealants are highly effective in preventing tooth decay. They can ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5149099/

Prevention of dental caries: A review of effective treatments

On permanent dentition, the results suggested that there was a 24% ( 95% confidence interval 16% to 33%) reduction on average in decayed, missing and filled ...

3.

who.int

who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sugars-and-dental-caries

Sugars and dental caries

Severe dental caries can lead to tooth loss and impair quality of life. The consequences of untreated dental caries include: physical symptoms ...

4.

cdc.gov

cdc.gov/oral-health/about/cavities-tooth-decay.html

About Cavities (Tooth Decay) | Oral Health

Prevention · Fluoride varnish reduces cavities in primary (baby) teeth by one-third.5 · Children who drink fluoridated tap water have fewer ...

5.

ucsf.edu

ucsf.edu/news/2018/01/409651/cavity-prevention-approach-effectively-reduces-tooth-decay

Archive: Cavity Prevention Approach Effectively Reduces ...

A scientifically based approach that includes a tooth-decay risk assessment, aggressive preventive measures and conservative restorations ...

6.

nidcr.nih.gov

nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tooth-decay

Tooth Decay | NIDCR

Tooth decay begins when bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the tooth's surface (enamel). This can lead to a small hole in a tooth, called a cavity.

7.

ada.org

ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/caries-risk-assessment-and-management

Caries Risk Assessment and Management

Find caries risk assessment forms along with other helpful ADA resources valuable for the prevention and management of dental caries.

8.

cda.org

cda.org/public-health/oral-health-fact-sheets/

Oral Health Fact Sheets - CDA

From preventing cavities to how to pay for treatment, we've compiled information on some of the most common issues affecting dental patients of all ages.