Northern Ireland Caries Prevention in Practice Trial (NIC-PIP)

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A randomised controlled trial to measure the effects and costs of a dental caries prevention regime for young children attending primary care dental services

• IRAS ID

  17538

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Manchester

• Eudract number

  2009-010725-39

• ISRCTN Number

  application pending

• Research summary

  Tooth decay in the primary or milk teeth is the commonest disease of childhood. It is preventable but recent research shows that preventive care provided by family dentists within the NHS is unreliable and ineffective. This study will measure the effects and costs of a simple "prevention package" provided by family dentists which is designed to prevent tooth decay from starting. We will invite just over 2000 children aged 2-4 years to take part in this project, which will be based in dental practices and community dental service clinics in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has been chosen as it has high levels of tooth decay and at present there is no agreed approach by the dentists or the NHS to providing preventive dental care.To join the project, children must have no tooth decay at the start of the trial. The prevention package will consist of three thingsfluride varnish painted on the teeth by the dentist, family-strengtfluride toothpaste and simple advice on how to prevent tooth decay. Children whose parents have agreed to their taking part will be randomly sorted into two groups. One group will receive the preventive package twice a year and the second only the simple advice on how to prevent tooth decay, again twice a year. At the end of the 3-year project, the effectiveness of the prevention package in preventing tooth decay against the simple advice alone will be compared. The costs of dental care in the two groups will also be compared.

• REC name

  North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  09/H1008/93

• Date of REC Opinion

  8 Jul 2009

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion