Abstract
Through most of the two decades period after the 2nd World War. a remarkable growth accerelation has been observed in the phisique of primary and middle school pupils residing in Kokura Ward, Kitakyushu city, although it seems that a stationary phase of the growth rate has already set in by around 1963. The growth accerelation in those years was especially marked in the middle school pupils, while it was less marked in the primary school pupils, and especially least marked in pupils of lowest grade. It was characteristic of the post-war growth pattern that the growth accerelation with respect to the body length and body weigh was larger than of the prewar form toward a slim form has been taking place. In parallel with the above change, the tooth exchange in those pupils, and tooth growth itself was likewise accerelated. In addition to this, however, much increase in the incidence of tooth caries obserbed through those years, the rate of increase, however, being leveled off since 1963. The high incidence of tooth caries obserbed may be caused mainly by a asudden change of post-war mode of living increased consumption of sugar products, especially of a variety of sweat juices. In view of these observation, more powerful effort shuld be exerted to promote the dental health education program toward both parents and their children, for the prevention of dental decay and for complete treatment means to cope with the present dental health problem for these young population may be the earliest possible therapeutic treatment of the teeth to be conducted at least 3 times annualy.
