ABSTRACT:
Purpose: To estimate the impact of Mothers Training for Dental Care and providing WhatsApp educational messages as well as making online meeting on prevention of dental caries in group of autistic kids. Materials and Methods: 40 kids with autism ranging from 3 to 6 years of age from both genders were randomly assigned to a test group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20) regarding to receiving educational messages and making online meeting: The test group included kids whose mothers received educational messages and facilitated online meetings, and control group ; whose mothers did not receive any messages or facilitated online meetings. The test group was given educational messages every 14 days via WhatsApp messages and made online meeting every month. The Visible Plaque Index (VPI), Decayed, Missed, Filled (dmf), and International Caries Detection & Assessment System (CDAS) indices were assessed at the beginning of the study, at 3, 6, and 9 months follow-ups, respectively. The Health Literacy level and dietary habits were assessed at the start and at 9 months follow-up. Results: Educational messages increased HEALS scores for mothers, enhancing oral health of kids and reducing the severity of dental caries. Conclusions: Cellphone educational messages provided through WhatsApp and online meeting through blackboard program were efficient in reducing dental caries among autistic kids and enhancing health literacy of the Mothers