[A selective, need-oriented prevention program for primary schoolchildren - results after two years]

427 first grade pupils from primary schools in Göttingen participated in a selective, need-oriented preventive program. Following a clinical examination and an additional saliva test the children were assigned to three risk groups, according to the severity of the initial findings. Each group received preventive care of varying intensity. Two years later the children of risk group 1 ("minor caries risk") showed a mean 0.5 and those of risk group 2 ("medium caries risk") a mean 1.0 new DF surfaces. In the children of the high caries risk group the average caries increment was 1.8 DF surfaces. The degree of sanation of the deciduous teeth could be improved from 10% to 47% within the two years' test period. The saliva tests revealed that the number of cariogenic organisms was markedly reduced in the course of the preventive program.