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Dental caries among 12-year-old children in northern Poland between 1987 and 2003
K Emerich1, B Adamowicz-Klepalska
1Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland. emerich@amg.gda.pl
Aim:
In 1987, 1995 and 2003 dental surveys were carried out in the Gdansk region of Poland investigating the prevalence of dental caries in 12-year-old school children.
Materials And Methods:
Sampling and examination were performed according to WHO standards. A sample of 180 children in each year were selected from different living environments: a large city, a small town and a rural area.
Results:
The caries prevalence (ratio of caries-free children) and caries experience (mean DMFT scores) changed significantly in some groups in the period from 1987-2003. However, there was no change in caries experience in children living in a large city. The average DMFT score of all 12-year-olds dropped from 4.07 in 1987 to 3.20 in 2003.
Conclusion:
The remarkable improvement of dental health may be explained by the oral health education and increased availability of fluoridated toothpaste.
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