[Social psychological barriers to compliance in group and individual prophylaxis]

In a long-term study of 700 school children attitudes and behaviour related to dental hygiene were registered and collated with findings on caries and oral hygiene. The data indicating developments in the 12 - 14 year old group showed that youths are well informed about the condition of their teeth, but are increasingly unwilling to accept treatment and advice offered by dentists. Potential barriers to compliance with prophylactic and therapeutic measures are a lack of success in school studies, insufficient accentuation of independence in the educational and child-raising process and a lack of communication between dentist and youths.