Dental caries 12 years after introduction of a preventive program-preliminary report from seven communities

Supervised toothbrushing with fluoride preparations and information on prevention of dental disease was introduced in 1963/64 for the majority of schools in the canton of Zurich. From 1963 to 1975, DMFT levels decreased by 47 to 54 percent, DMFS levels by 59 to 64 percent. Caries on surfaces of anterior teeth and on smooth surfaces of molars was reduced by 90 percent. The number of sound deciduous teeth increased substantially from 1963 to 1975.