Objectives: The objective was to analyze the impact of preventive programmes on oral quality of life in school students aged 11-12 yrs.
Study design: In the school year 1996/97, a quasi-experimental study was initiated in Granada province with four groups of students aged 6-7 yrs: Sealant + Fluoride (sealants on first permanent molars applied in the health centre for a 3-yr active programme, and fluoride varnish applied every four months for 3 yrs, n=65), Sealant (only sealants, n=80), Fluoride (only fluoride varnish, n=107) and Control group (n=59). All students were examined every 6 months at school during the 3-yr active programme and received an oral health report after each examination. At 5.5 yrs (school year 2002/03), after 2.5 yrs with no programme, students were again examined and completed a questionnaire on oral quality of life scored from -6 (minimum) to +6 (maximum).
Results: Oral quality of life values (+/- standard deviation) were: 3.31+/-0.30 (Sealant + Fluoride), 3.11+/-0.27 (Sealant), 3.18+/-0.23 (Fluoride) and 2.95+/-0.32 (Control), with no statistically significant differences among them.
Conclusions: Fissure sealant and fluoride varnish programmes had no significant influence on oral quality of life after a 5.5- yr follow-up (3 yrs of active programme plus 2.5 yrs of discontinuation).