title: [Use of fluorides and dental visits in elementary school students of the Rems-Murr district and conclusions for dental health--results of a parent survey (1993)].
abstract: After a dental examination at school a representative sample of 1244 schoolchildren in the Rems-Murr district received a questionnaire which had to be answered by their parents at home. The questions dealt with the use of fluorides and dental consultation of the children. Forty-nine per cent of the questionnaires were returned. The survey shows that fluoride supplementation by tablets enjoys an acceptance of more than 90% in early childhood, but loses much of its importance in later years. Eighty-eight per cent of the pupils brush teeth with a fluoridated dentifrice and ca. 39% of the households use fluorinated salt. Fluorides are frequently combined in an inappropriate way. This indicates that parents do not always know exactly how to use the products or simply confuse them with others. Dentists do not reserve topical fluoride applications for selected caries risk groups, as is fixed by law, but offer them to all their patients. More than 90% of the children see a dentist at least once and about 70% at least twice a year. Many children with untreated deciduous teeth had visited their dentist only a few weeks or months previous to the examination at school. Probably many dentists reject treatment of deciduous teeth for economic reasons. Consumers have to be instructed more intensively about the use of fluorides and should receive more specific advice adapted to their individual caries risk. To improve treatment of deciduous teeth modifications in the sickness insurance refund tariff system are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Gesundheitsamt Waiblingen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Steenkiste
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides