Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a significant clinical and public health challenge that the world and the Singapore population are facing. This study seeks to test the effectiveness of technology-enabled anticipatory guidance and peer support in empowering parents to establish proper childcare practices and prevent ECC.
Mother is currently expecting or has an infant below 3 months of age
Biological mother of the child
Mother with internet access and a mobile device
Mother can communicate in English
Child with disqualifying medical condition (e.g., tube feeding, severe neuromuscular disability) that would limit oral dietary intake, at-home oral hygiene practices, or receipt of dental examinations
Child with serious congenital syndrome that is expected to adversely affect the development of primary teeth
Family plans to emigrate within 3 years
Parallel
Technology-enabled anticipatory guidance and peer support
BehavioralThe intervention includes 4 online sessions led by an oral health therapist (OHT) or dentist, as well as push notifications and information delivered to participants via a mobile/web app.
Conventional health education
BehavioralParticipants on this arm will receive conventional child oral health education materials at 4 time points.
Incidence of early childhood caries
Number of new surfaces with coronal caries
Toothbrushing behaviours
Using a questionnaire, toothbrushing behaviours will be categorised as: 1. Favourable (frequency of brushing \>=2times/day) 2. Unfavourable (frequency of brushing \<2times/day)
Dietary and feeding practices (favourable/unfavourable)
Self-reported frequency of snack, sweet/dessert and sugary drink intake
Dental Utilisation
Self-reported frequency of dental visits
Dental Costs
Sum of direct costs from dental treatment and indirect costs due to time taken off work by parents to attend dental visits, and loss of productivity. Costs will be captured in Singapore dollars (SGD).
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