Caries experience among pre-school children in Westfalia

Oral health improvements in pre-school children have been reported (Marthaler TM. Caries Res 1990; 24:381-396) followed by first indication that the decline in caries levels in preschool children has ceased (Pitts NB, Palmer JD. Community Dent Health 1995;12:52-58).A school based preventive programme whereby dentists or dental auxilarities providing oral health care for children attending kindergarten schools, has been in operation in parts of Germany since 1984. The preventive programme consisted of dental health education, supervised instruction in oral hygiene, diet control and use of low fluoride toothpaste (max. 500 ppm F-). Countrywide representative surveys on oral health in pre-school children are not regularly performed. Information on declining prevalence in dental caries on the basis of smaller local studies are limited. There was a significant decline in caries prevalence in 3- and 5-year-olds in the period 1987 to 1997. While the period between the last two studies from 1997 to 2001 was short, the results could be the first indication that caries decline in these 3- and 5-year old children has ceased. Keywords: caries prevalence, epidemiology