[20 years of fluoridation in the German Democratic Republic]

Caries-statistical data obtained from cross-sectional studies on more than 240,000 individuals having an age range from 3 to 18 years, at Karl-Marx-Stadt (where the drinking water contains 1 p.p.m. of fluoride) and several towns with low levels of fluoride content the repercussions of the caries reduction achieved on the system of organized paedodontic care. Due to further development on a legal basis, 1,3 million inhabitants (13%) of the GDR are at present provided with fluoridated water for caries-protective reasons. It is aimed at serving 50% of the inhabitants by 1990.