Evaluation of a brief tailored motivational intervention to prevent early childhood caries.

Objectives: This pragmatic randomized trial evaluated the effectiveness of a tailored educational intervention on oral health behaviors and new untreated carious lesions in low-income African-American children in Detroit, Michigan.

Methods: Participating families were recruited in a longitudinal study of the determinants of dental caries in 1021 randomly selected children (0-5 years) and their caregivers. The families were examined at baseline in 2002-2004 (Wave I), 2004-2005 (Wave II) and 2007 (Wave III).