[Swiss organization of preventive dentistry]

As a result of 25--30 years of caries research practiced in Switzerland, a level for an effective caries prevention has been reached. The results are conclusive and show that at present the caries rate has been considerably reduced. An adequate and regular application of fluoride is the basis for an effective caries prevention. Other important measures are an optimal oral hygiene and a proper nutritional diet. In Switzerland, we are coming very near to the two aims set by WHO for the year 2000 in respect of healthy teeth, namely: a) half of the 5 years olds should be caries-free, b) 12 year olds should have no more than 3 carious teeth. In many Swiss communities, these two aims have already been achieved. Group prevention begins in kindergarten (ca. 4 year olds) and continues up to the fourth year of ground school education. On entering the middle school level (ca. 11 years olds), the patients leaves the group-prevention and receives individual prevention instruction. Also the substance matter changes from caries-prevention to gingivitis-prevention. It seems that with group-prevention, no noticeable improvement has been made against gingivitis. Carrying out the program are private local dentists with contract arrangements, or the canton's school dental clinic. The dentist delegates the prevention program to specially trained personnel. Public funds finance the prevention measures in its entirety. In the last few years we have discovered a small group of patients showing a higher caries-susceptibility despite the general improvement of oral hygiene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)