Decrease of dental treatments over a 15-year period in the Canton of Ticino

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Epidemiology

Background:

• The School Dental Service in Ticino has provided dental care for children over several decades.
• Understanding trends in therapeutic dental services is crucial for public health planning.
• Previous data on the evolution of dental treatments in this service were limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the changes in the number of therapeutic dental services provided by the School Dental Service in Ticino over a 15-year period.
• To identify trends in specific restorative procedures such as amalgam and composite fillings.
• To explore potential factors contributing to observed changes in dental treatment needs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of treatment data from the School Dental Service in Ticino.
• Data collection spanned a 15-year period, focusing on conservative treatments.
• Statistical comparison of treatment numbers between the initial and final years of the study period.

Main Results:

• A substantial 45% reduction in conservative dental treatments was observed between the 1977/78 and 1984/85 school years.
• Annual new amalgam fillings decreased by 34% for permanent teeth and 46% for deciduous teeth.
• Composite fillings saw a 43% decrease during the study period.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates a significant decline in the demand for conservative dental treatments within the Ticino School Dental Service.
• This reduction is potentially linked to factors contributing to decreased tooth decay.
• Effective, institutionalized dental care delivery by motivated practitioners can lead to rapid decreases in treatment needs.