Improving Family's Adherence to Dental Care After DGA (HECC-CAN-study)

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Child Neglect; Dental Caries

• Registration Number: NCT04898465
• Lead Sponsor: Helsinki University Central Hospital

Brief Summary

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a common disease. Its prevalence is highest in poor, socially disadvantaged, and minority groups. Dental treatment under General Anaesthesia (DGA) is common, especially among the youngest patients. Parental adherence to child's post-DGA dental treatment is varying. Non-attendance to preventive care appointments and dental check-ups after the DGA is also common. The primary aim of this study is to explore if a multi-professional (paediatrician and social worker) intervention after the child's DGA can increase the adherence to post-DGA dental care. The secondary aim is to compare its possible influence on children's oral health 18 months after the DGA. Our hypothesis is that multi-professional counselling and support after the DGA will lead to better adherence to the scheduled preventive dental programme and better oral health for these children in the long run.

Detailed Description

In an earlier Finnish study 26% of the children did not attend to their first scheduled appointment after the DGA and during a four years follow-up period 63% of the patients had one or more no-shows.

Based on the assumption that reducing the amount of no-shows to half of the reported earlier (60% vs. 30%) is a clinically relevant result, we need 42 patients for both groups (alpha 0.05, beta 0.2, power 0.8).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-02-26
• Study First Submitted: 2021-05-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-05-18
• Study First Posted: 2021-05-24
• Primary Completion: 2023-01-01
• Study Completion: 2024-01-01
• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-12
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-18

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 89

Inclusion Criteria

• reason for DGA is dental caries
• place of birth is Finland
• primary dentition

Exclusion Criteria

• chronic disease which needs treatment in tertiary hospital

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of uncancelled dental appointments after DGA	0-18 months after the DGA	Amount of unused or uncancelled dental appointment times after DGA

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of new decayed teeth after DGA	0-18 months after the DGA	Amount of caries lesions observed after DGA

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

New Children's Hospital; 🇫🇮 Helsinki, Finland