Oral Health Promotion through School

A combined education promotion and preventive program in the school would greatly reduce the amount of classroom time lost in traveling to a treatment facility. Comprehensive school programs also would obviate the loss of study time due to pain and apprehension before and after treatment. The major successes of school-based oral-health programs have been achieved when education has been combined with active prevention and/or treatment programs. Unfortunately too few schools have routinely included active preventive dentistry regimens ⎯fluoride mouth rinses and tablet programs sealant applications remineralization therapy and a strong emphasis on the use of fluoride-containing dentifrices while brushing- all of which can reduce the DMFS of a school population. This reduction can be accomplished with only a minimal change in self-behavior or compliance required of the student. If oral-health promotion is to be accomplished through the school systems it must be integrated with the general medical health program.