Compliance with fluoride supplements provided by a dental hygienist in homes of low-income parents of preschool children in Quebec

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the compliance with fluoride supplements provided at home by a dental hygienist to mothers of at-risk preschool children. METHODS: Participants were recruited during pregnancy of low-income women. On the first visit, the mothers of 60 infants aged 6 to 9 months were handed free fluoride supplements. A questionnaire was administered at that time and after 6 and 12 months to assess compliance during the preceding week. RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, none of the mothers reported having given fluoride supplements, in comparison with 73 percent of mothers of 44 infants who received all three visits at the end of follow-up; 48 percent reported fluoride supplement use on a daily basis. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of financial and physical barriers and personal professional involvement are good strategies to achieve compliance with fluoride supplements. Further assessment regarding the possible application of this intervention to other professional or cultural contexts is warranted.