[Oral findings in comparison in Prague and Rostock school-children].

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Dental caries remains a significant public health issue globally.
• The effectiveness of community water fluoridation as a caries prevention strategy is well-established.
• Assessing long-term impacts of water fluoridation on caries prevalence in different populations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare caries prevalence in school children in Prague, a city with a long history of water fluoridation, with those in Rostock, a city without water fluoridation.
• To evaluate the achievement of World Health Organization (WHO) caries reduction targets in both populations.
• To assess the impact of water fluoridation on the overall dental treatment outcomes in children.

Main Methods:

• Comparative study analyzing dental caries prevalence data.
• Longitudinal assessment of caries experience in school-aged populations.
• Evaluation of treatment statistics and success rates in dental care.

Main Results:

• Prague school children exhibited very low caries prevalence 12 years after water fluoridation began, surpassing WHO goals.
• Rostock school children, without water fluoridation, maintained a high caries experience.
• Minimal differences were observed in the degree of dental treatment and success rates between the two cities.

Conclusions:

• Community water fluoridation is a highly effective method for reducing dental caries prevalence in children.
• The findings strongly support the implementation and continuation of water fluoridation programs for caries prevention.
• Public health initiatives for dental caries prevention should prioritize proven methods like water fluoridation.