A “family-school-hospital” collaborative oral health management model for preschool children: a prospective single-arm pre-post intervention study

Background Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a global public health challenge, yet preschool children lack autonomy in health management and depend heavily on family and school environments. Population-based oral health management models have proven effective in other fields but are rarely implemented in Chinese preschool settings. This study aimed to establish and evaluate a “family-school-hospital” collaborative oral health management model for preschool children in Chengdu, China. Methods The oral health management model for preschool children was established through population screening, baseline surveys, personalized oral health guidance, provision of diagnostic and treatment pathways, and the use of health behavior formation tools. The preliminary effects of promoting active health behavior formation were observed through oral health follow-up examinations and oral health-related questionnaire surveys conducted at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Results After establishing the oral health management model for preschool children, a total of 421 children completed the six-month follow-up, with a loss to follow-up rate of 11.4%. The increase in the number of teeth restored, the decrease in plaque index, the increase in the number of children participating in fluoride application or pit and fissure sealing, the improvement in the number of children using fluoride toothpaste, the improvement in oral health-related quality of life scores, and the improvement in parental knowledge and attitude were all statistically significant. Conclusion This collaborative model was associated with improved parental knowledge and attitudes, enhanced children's oral hygiene and restorative care, and better oral health-related quality of life. It offers a reference framework for preschool oral health management. Future randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are warranted to confirm its preventive efficacy.