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The Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program is an educational oral health program conducted at Boys & Girls Club of America sites. The multi-week program provides information in one of three modules, based on the age of the participants. The program teaches the participants about oral biology, oral diseases, and proper oral health prevention including oral hygiene, diet, and the importance of visiting a dentist. Lessons also focus on building self-esteem in one's smile and developing positive attitudes toward dentists and dental visits. The Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program is part of Crest's Healthy Smiles 2010 program. Crest Healthy Smiles pairs with local Boys & Girls Clubs across America and community organizations to provide oral health resources including education, dental hygiene materials, and in some cases affordable dental care to underprivileged children.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program is to improve the oral health of underprivileged children.

Impact

The educational program was effective in promoting improved oral health in these children over a four-week period.

Results / Accomplishments

A pre- and post-test study was used to evaluate the impact of one four-week implementation of the Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program at a Boys & Girls Club of America in Chicago, IL. The mean Gingival Index score for gingivitis significantly decreased 24% from 0.184 at baseline to 0.140 at four-week follow-up (p < 0.001). The mean gingival bleeding site score significantly decreased by 20% (9.99 to 7.97, p = 0.005). The mean Plaque Index score for dental plaque levels decreased by 3% over the four weeks (3.06 to 2.97, p = 0.044). Participants completed five questions at baseline and at four weeks to assess their oral health knowledge before and after exposure, and they had statistically greater oral health knowledge (p < 0.001) after the program.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Boys and Girls Club of America, Crest Healthy Smiles 2010
Primary Contact
National Headquarters
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
1230 W. Peachtree St. NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 487-5947
healthysmiles@bgca.org
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Health / Oral Health
Organization(s)
Boys and Girls Club of America, Crest Healthy Smiles 2010
Source
Journal of Clinical Dentistry
Date of publication
2004
Date of implementation
2003
Location
USA
For more details
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15794453
Target Audience
Children

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Related Content for: The Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
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