[Dental caries prevention with semestral topical administration of acidulated phosphate fluoride]

998 children aged 6, 8 and 10, from low income families living in the Federal District, Brazil and attending public, first grade, schools, received bi-annual topical APF Gel-Tray applications. The mass methodology proposed by the National Dental Caries Preventive Program of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, without previous prophylaxis, was adopted. After one year, in fluoridated communities the reduction in the incidence of CPOS was of 31.6%, 24.9% and 39.5%, respectively, for the groups aged 6, 8 and 10. In non fluoridated communities the reductions were, respectively, of 24.3%, 26.6% and 27.7%, in every case with statistic significance at the 95% confidence level. Considering the positive results in a developing area, it is recommended that oral health institutions at all levels could adopt a comprehensive and continuous preventive program for children under their responsibility.