[Effectiveness of dental prevention programme for Swiss youth]

In the past few years, the caries research has reached a level for an effective prevention, that in Switzerland has been practiced already for 25-30 years. The results are conclusive and today I will show that the caries rate has been dramatically deduced. An adequate and regular fluoride delivery is the basis for an effective caries prevention. Also other important measures are optimal oral hygiene and a proper nutritional diet. In Switzerland, we are coming close to the two goals for the 5 year olds and for the 12 year olds set by WHO for the year 2000 for healthy teeth. In many Swiss communities, these two goals have already been reached. It seems that with group-prophylaxis, no noticeable improvement has been made against gingivitis. Group-prophylaxis begins in Kindergarten (ca. 4 years olds) and extends to the four years of ground school education. On entering the middle school level (ca. 11 year olds), the patient leaves the group-prophylaxis and receives individual prophylaxis instruction. Also, the substance matter changes from caries prophylaxis to gingivitis-prophylaxis. Carrying out the program are private local dentist through contract arrangements or the canton school dental clinic. The dentist delegates the prophylaxis program to specially trained personnel. Public enterprise finances the prophylaxis measurements in its entirety. Today there is a small group of patients showing a large susceptibility to caries. Certain prophylaxis test today demonstrate these risk factors. The caries risk is already from the mother or other persons in contact with the child at the Kindergarten age, or at the latest, at the time the child enters school.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)