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Reasons for the caries decline: what do the experts believe?
D Bratthall1, G Hänsel-Petersson, H Sundberg
1Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, University of Lund, Sweden. Douglas.Bratthall@odcariol.lu.se
European Journal of Oral Sciences
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Experts identified varied reasons for the decline in tooth decay over 30 years. However, there was strong agreement that fluoride toothpaste significantly contributes to reduced caries prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Dental Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Preventive Dentistry
Background:
- Dental caries prevalence has significantly decreased in many industrialized nations over the last three decades.
- Understanding the multifactorial reasons behind this caries decline is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To ascertain contemporary expert consensus on the primary drivers of the observed caries decline in young adults.
- To explore expert opinions on the relative impact of various preventive factors on caries reduction.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was distributed to 55 international dental experts.
- Experts rated the impact of 25 potential explanatory factors for caries decline, categorized under diet, fluorides, plaque, saliva, dental materials, and other factors.
- Respondents specified geographic areas and water fluoridation status to contextualize their responses.
Main Results:
- A high response rate (95%) yielded diverse expert opinions on the impact of most factors.
- Significant variation existed among experts regarding the perceived influence of different caries preventive measures.
- A clear consensus emerged regarding the positive and significant effect of fluoride toothpaste use.
Conclusions:
- While expert opinions vary on the causes of caries decline, fluoride toothpaste is consistently recognized as a key factor.
- Further research may be needed to reconcile differing expert views on other contributing factors to caries reduction.