The effect of using intra-oral camera as an educational aid for oral health promotion in children

Year 2025, Volume: 59 Issue: 3, 166 - 171, 08.10.2025

K S S Pratyusha , Penmatsa Chaitanya , Chandrappa Vinay , Ks Uloopi , Peddi Ravigna , Spandana Cheeli

https://doi.org/10.26650/eor.20241534830

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of using an intraoral camera (IOC) as an educational aid for promoting oral health among 7–10-year-old children in India.

Materials and Methods: A randomized trial was conducted involving 260 children from private schools. The intervention group (n = 130) received IOC-based oral health education, while the control group (n = 130) received verbal education. Both groups were assessed for knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards oral health, as well as the DMFT/deft index at baseline and after 12 months. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann–Whitney test. Additionally, regression analysis was conducted to predict DMFT and deft scores using KAP scores as predictors.

Results: A significant decrease (p<0.001) in the mean number of decayed teeth (dt + DT) was observed in both groups. However, the intervention group showed an increase in filled teeth (ft + FT) scores after 12 months. The experimental group also exhibited a significant increase in attitude scores (p<0.01) and practice scores (p<0.001). Despite these improvements, KAP scores did not predict the total caries experience, as no correlation was found between total caries experience (deft + DMFT) and KAP scores.

Conclusion: The use of the IOC as an educational tool significantly improved children’s oral health status, as well as their attitude and practice scores. However, since KAP scores did not predict changes in oral health, a more comprehensive approach is required for effective oral health promotion among children.

Keywords

intraoral camera , oral health , education , school-based program , children

References

• Matrood F, Al-Naimi R. Effect of utilization of intra-oral camera on oral health promotion in children of Mosul City. J Int Dent Med Res 2022;4:2582-6018. google scholar
• Watt RG, Harnett R, Daly B, Fuller SS, Kay E, Morgan A, Munday P, Nowjack Raymer R, Treasure ET. Evaluating oral health promotion: need for quality outcome measures. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2006; 34:11-7. google scholar
• Bhat PK, Kumar A, Badiyani BK, CN A, Bhaskar NN. Effect of oral health education on the knowledge, attitude and behavior regarding oral health among school children in Bengaluru, India. Int J Contemp 2012; 19:3. google scholar
• Jaime RA, Carvalho TS, Bonini GC, Imparato JC, Mendes FM. Oral health education program on dental caries incidence for school children. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2015; 39:277-83. google scholar
• Gambhir RS, Sohi RK, Nanda T, Sawhney GS, Setia S. Impact of school based oral health education programmes in India: a systematic review. J Clin Diagn Res 2013; 7:3107. google scholar
• Singh N, Ramakrishnan TS, Khera A, Singh G. Impact evaluation of two methods of dental health education among children of a primary school in rural India. Med J Dr DYPatil Univ 2016; 9:66-71. google scholar
• Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT, Billings RJ, McConnochie KM. Dental screening of preschool children using teledentistry: a feasibility study. Pediatr Dent 2007; 29:209-13. google scholar
• Jasmine K, Umadevi R, Eashwar VM A. Knowledge, attitude and practice on oral hygiene among primary school children in an urban area of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. Int J Community Med Public Health 2020; 7:311. google scholar
• Pentapati KC, Siddiq H. Clinical applications of intraoral camera to increase patient compliance-current perspectives. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent 2019; 11:267-78. google scholar
• Vetchaporn S, Rangsri W, Ittichaicharoen J, Rungsiyakull P. Validity and reliability of intraoral camera with fluorescent aids for oral potentially malignant disorders screening in teledentistry. Int J Dent 2021; 2021. google scholar
• Gupta N, Rajpurohit L, Phansopkar S, Agarwal D, Kakodkar P, Hegde-Shetiya S. Effectiveness of prevention-oriented school oral health program in a private school in Pimpri, Pune. J Dent Res Rev 2017; 4:21-4. google scholar
• Bhardwaj VK, Sharma KR, Luthra RP, Jhingta P, Sharma D, Justa A. Impact of school-based oral health education program on oral health of 12- and 15-years old school children. J Educ Health Promot 2013; 2:33. google scholar
• Sarayuthpitak J, Rodpipat S, Ekgasit S, Ravizza DM. Effectiveness of an oral hygiene promoting program for elementary school students using a smartphone endomicroscope in Thailand. J Health Res 2022; 36:1176-86. google scholar
• Azimi S, Taheri JB, Tennant M, Kruger E, Molaei H, Ghorbani Z. Relationship between mothers’ knowledge and attitude towards the importance of oral health and dental status of their young children. Oral Health Prev Dent 2018; 16:265-70. google scholar
• Poutanen R, Lahti S, Tolvanen M, Hausen H. Parental influence on children's oral health-related behavior. Acta Odontol Scand 2006; 64:286-92. google scholar
• Abiola Adeniyi A, Eyitope Ogunbodede O, Sonny Jeboda O, Morenike Folayan O. Do maternal factors influence the dental health status of Nigerian pre-school children? Int J Paediatr Dent 2009; 19:448-54. google scholar
• Nuca C, Amariei C, Badea V, Jipa I. Relationships between Constanta (Romania) 12-year-old children’s oral health status and their parents’ socioeconomic status, oral health knowledge and attitudes. OHDMBSC 2009; 8:44-52. google scholar
• Basir L, Khanehmasjedi M, Khanehmasjedi S. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the oral health of children: a cross-sectional study among Iranian parents. Braz J Oral Sci 2022; 21:e228274. google scholar
• Kay E, Locker D. A systematic review of the effectiveness of health promotion aimed at improving oral health. Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. 1998. google scholar
• Nakre PD, Harikiran AG. Effectiveness of oral health education programs: A systematic review. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2013; 3:103-15. google scholar
• Priya PG, Asokan S, Janani RG, Kandaswamy D. Effectiveness of school dental health education on the oral health status and knowledge of children: A systematic review. Indian J Dent Res 2019; 30:437-49. google scholar
• Tom K. Patient’s Experience, Attitude, and Satisfaction toward the Use of a Digital Intraoral Camera in a Dental Screening Campaign. J Oral Health Comm Dent 2020; 14:44-7. google scholar
• Pate S, Katre A. Operator, patient and parental Level of acceptance between Visual Intraoral Examination and Intraoral Camera in Seven toTwelve year Old Children. J Indian Dent Assoc 2024; 18. google scholar
• Caruso S, Di Benedetto G, Pelagalli P, Caruso L, Caruso S, Mattei A, et al. Validated Questionnaire on Intraoral Scanner Effectiveness in Paediatric Patients. Appl Sci 2024; 14:7307. google scholar
• Staudt CB, Kinzel S, Habfeld S, Stein W, Staehle HJ, Dörfer CE. Computer-based intraoral image analysis of the clinical plaque removing capacity of 3 manual toothbrushes. J Clin Periodontol 2001; 28:746-52. google scholar
• Araujo MR, Alvarez MJ, Godinho CA, Pereira C. Psychological, behavioral, and clinical effects of intra-oral camera: a randomized control trial on adults with gingivitis. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2016; 44:523-30. google scholar
• Mehta N, Ankola A, Chawla N, Rajpurohit L. Association of maternal oral health-related knowledge, attitude, and socioeconomic status with dental caries status of preschool children in Belgaum City: A cross-sectional study. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2019; 17:186-91. google scholar
• Aly NM, El Kashlan MK, Giraudeau N, El Tantawi M. Comparison of intraoral cameras and smartphones in early childhood caries detection: a diagnostic accuracy study. J Evid Based Dent Pract 2024; 102041. google scholar
• Forgie AH, Pine CM, Pitts NB. The assessment of an intra-oral video camera as an aid to occlusal caries detection. Int Dent J 2003; 53:3-6. google scholar