Dental check-up intervals and caries preventive measures received by adolescents in Finland

The aim was first to estimate the mean length of dental examination intervals and the mean number of preventive procedures in two Finnish towns during the periods of 1990-1992 and 1993-1995. Secondly, to ascertain whether the length of the check-up interval and the intensity of prevention varied according to the caries experience at the beginning of a treatment period. Participants A random sample of all 12- and 15-year-old children was drawn in 1992 and 1995 in the towns of Jyväskylä and Kuopio.

Oral health records obtained from public dental clinics were used for gathering the data on dental check-ups, DMFT and all preventive and treatment measures during the previous three years. The data were available for 267 and 590 subjects in 1992 and 1995, respectively.

For 12-year-old children in 1990-1992, the mean length of check-up interval was 13.0 months in Kuopio and 12.4 months in Jyväskylä, while in 1993-1995 it was 18.1 months and 16.1 months, respectively. Among 15-year-old children in 1990-1992, the mean was 12.3 in Kuopio and 14.7 in Jyväskylä. During the latter period the interval was 1.2 months longer (P<0.05) in Kuopio, but there was no lengthening in Jyväskylä. Fluoride varnish applications, sealants, and instruction in oral hygiene were the most commonly used preventive measures. Practically no other fluoride methods than varnish applications were performed in dental clinics. Prevention seemed to be based mainly on procedures performed by the staff at the dental clinics and less attention was paid to the promotion of self-care. There was very little difference in the mean length of check-up interval and prevention between children who were caries free at the beginning of the treatment period and those with present or past caries experience.

Between 1990-1992 and 1993-1995, the frequency of dental check-ups and the number of preventive procedures decreased. There was no indication of an increased caries frequency. Prevention appeared to be stereotyped and often had little relevance to the actual needs of the individual patient.