1991 Volume 41 Issue 5 Pages 716-722
In 1984, a program for dental caries prevention was started in Hisayama Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The program consisted of dental hygiene instruction and fluoride application. The 1.5- to 3-year age group were recalled every 3 months after the initial dental examination and received dental health instruction and topical fluoride application with APF (2% NaF). Kindergarteners and primary school children rinsed their mouths with 0.2% NaF once a week, and were given dental health instruction and a dental examination twice a year. Junior high school students were given a dental examination once a year.
Comparing the improvement of dental health status between 1984 and 1990, dental caries prevalence decreased in all age groups of subjects, particularly in the higher grade children in primary school. The DMFT index and DMFS index in 1990 decreased less than 50% compared with those of 1984. The dft index of the 5-year age group decreased from 9.32 to 6.40, and the DMFT index of the 12-year age group decreased from 5.13 to 2.34.
Presumptive calculation of cost for caries treatment was estimated from the chart of dental examination in primary school. Thus, the cost for caries treatment was calculated by using a standard taken from the table of numerical rating of health insurance issued on April, 1990. It was estimated from the survey that a total of 12, 300 yen per child during the 6 years of primary school was saved in this dental health service.
The purposes of this program were “DMFT index less than 3 at the age of 12”, and“dental treatment for all decayed teeth”. The first purpose was achieved in this 6-year period. Concerning the latter purpose, the mean number of decayed teeth decreased to one third of that in 1984.
