Changes in dental caries in Zurich school-children over a period of 45 years.
In 16 rural communities of the Canton of Zurich, school-children of all age groups participated in dental examinations conducted at intervals of 4 years since 1963/64. The same standardised method was used throughout the entire period. This study documents the caries experience over a period of 45 years. From 1964 to 2009, the DM*FT per 14-year-old child fell from 12.50 to 1.31, corresponding to a caries reduction of 90%. The caries experience in 8-, 10- and 12-year-olds decreased by 90% to 92%. From 1964 to 2009, the "Significant Caries Index" (the mean DM*FT in the third of 12-year-olds with the highest DM*FT values) fell from 13.09 to 2.20, corresponding to a caries reduction of 83%. The observed caries decline was unexpectedly high. The effect of fluorides may explain a caries reduction of roughly 50%. A large part of the decline, however, remains unexplained. Possible causes are discussed in this paper.
Clinic for Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, Centre for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Marcel
M
Steiner
Giorgio
G
Menghini
Thomas M
TM
Marthaler
Thomas
T
Imfeld
D000293:Adolescent; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012424:Rural Population; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002638:Chewing Gum; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides