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The Fall-Asleep Pacifier

An Evidence-Based Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

The Fall-Asleep Pacifier is a slow-release device used to administer fluoride tablets to young children as a preventive measure against dental caries and streptococcal oral infection. Mothers of 16-month-old children received a package of fluoride tablets to be given to the child each evening using the Fall-Asleep Pacifier. The package also included a free toothbrush and leaflets about dental health of 1-2 year-olds. In addition to the package, mothers received dental health counseling.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program is to reduce the dental cavity rate among children.

Results / Accomplishments

The effectiveness of the Fall-Asleep Pacifier was evaluated by comparing intervention and control groups in a prospective cohort study. At the four-month follow-up, children in the intervention group who used the Fall-Asleep Pacifier were significantly less likely to have plaque samples that were streptococcus positive when compared to the control group (9% vs. 25%, p < 0.05). Children in the intervention group developed significantly fewer (none) new dental caries in their primary dentitions than the control group between 2 and 3 ½ years of age (p < 0.001).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Health Center of Nummi-Pusula
Primary Contact
Antti S. Aaltonen
antti.aaltonen@nummi-pusula.fi
Topics
Health / Oral Health
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
Health Center of Nummi-Pusula
Source
Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
Date of publication
Dec 2000
Geographic Type
Rural
Location
Finland
For more details
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11196405
Target Audience
Children

Related Promising Practices

  1. Dental Caries (Cavities): Community Water Fluoridation
  2. The Crest Cavity-Free Zone Program
  3. School-Based Intervention to Promote Tooth Brushing
  4. Dental Caries (Cavities): School-Based Dental Sealant Delivery Programs
  5. Early Childhood Cavities Prevention Program
  6. CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Preventing Dental Caries: Community Water Fluoridation

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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.