[Caries prevalence, caries experience, caries increment and caries risk in apprentices of 16-18 years]

Yearly cross-sectional studies from 1985 to 1990 of 16-18 years old apprentices indicate a constant high caries prevalence of about 10 DMF/T. The yearly caries increment is also high like it is documented by longitudinal investigations of 152 apprentices, and it depends from the caries experience in the past. Only 9-17% of the youngsters had a yearly caries increment of greater than or equal to 3 D/T. Individual caries risk requires individual preventive dental services.