[Dental caries and its prevention in French Polynesia]

For some years, a global program for prevention of dental caries is carried on in french Polynesia. Polynesian populations were, more than a century ago, almost totally free of dental caries. This disorder suddenly appeared and reached, in a couple of decennia, a frequency and an intensity rarely observed in other countries. Ten years ago, with support of WHO, the Public health department of the territory organized a dental hygiene service for school children; positive results can already be observed.