Abstract
In order to examine the reduction of dental caries in Japanese adolescents, 1368 male students aged 15 to 19 years were examined from 1975 to 1987. Because an irregular yearly variation in caries prevalence among the same age groups was observed, the method of 3-year moving average was used and statistically analyzed on a linear regression. From the yearly trend in the same age groups, peaks were shown in the mean DMFT of students 15 to 17 years of age in 1979 to 1981 and in the mean DMFS of students 15 to 19 years of age in 1979 to 1983. After the peaks, a statistically significant decrease in caries prevalence was found in the mean DMFT of students 15 years of age and in the mean DMFS of students 15 and 17 years of age. It is therefore concluded that a decline in dental caries in Japanese adolescents is clear and will be more evident in the near future.
