The purpose of the present study was to obtain up-to-date information on periodontal disease and oral hygiene status in Israel among 9th to 12th grade non-blind students and among the inmates of six schools for the blind aged 14--17 years. 460 sighted and 434 blind students participated in the study. The examination was for periodontal status and oral hygiene only. Periodontal status was recorded according to Russell's Periodontal Index (PI). Oral hygiene was assessed according to Greene & Vermillion's Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Mean PI for the non-blind group was found to be 0.23, and for the blind students 0.79. Partially blind students were found to have a lower mean PI value than the totally blind. PI values did not increase significantly with age. Blind students exhibited a fair-to-poor level of oral hygiene (according to Greene & Vermillion's categorization). Relatively healthier levels of oral hygiene were found in the partially blind as compared with the totally blind. Mean OHI-S did not vary with age in either group.

The DMFT index is one of the simplest and most commonly used indices in epidemiologic surveys of dental caries. It quantifies dental health status based on the number of carious, missing and filled teeth. The index, however, does not provide an accurate description of previous dental care. Nor does it provide information regarding the severity of the carious attack or the indicated treatment. Thus, a revision of the DMFT index was developed. This involved a division of the "D" component into four separate categories. With the addition of these categories, the index remains simple, and yet provides a description of one's previous dental experience. It further shows the extent of dental services needed by the population, which can be interpreted in terms of treatment hours and costs. This modified index has been successfully utilized in a dental epidemiologic survey of 1672 schoolchildren, 14-16 yr of age. It was apparent that the additional components provided significant data for treatment planning as well as dental health status.

The etching effect of 50% H-3PO-4 applied together with 2% NaF or SnF-2 was compared with the effect of H-3PO-4 on pre- and postfluoridated enamel by scanning electron microscopy. Substantial etching of enamel resulted with use of 50% H-3PO-4 with 2% NaF. High fluoride incorporation in the surface provided additional protection of the conditioned enamel.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a dental health education program providing dental health information and toothbrushing instruction on oral cleanliness. Two methods of instruction, individual and group instruction, are presented in this study. The plaque situation was assessed in a group of 175 children, 11-14 years of age, by the Patient Hygiene Performance (PHP) method at the beginning of the study and at 1, 2, and 12 months. It was found that immediately after instruction the dental health education program resulted in improved oral hygiene home care for the two experimental groups. However, the improvement noted was achieved regardless of the method of toothbrushing instruction (individual versus group). Moreover, it was demonstrated that maintenance of a satisfactory level of oral hygiene home care was dependent upon review of educational programs and toothbrushing instruction and not related to the method of instruction.

The purpose of the present study was to assemble data on the prevalence of dental caries among workers in the sweets industry. Four industrial establishments were selected for the study. All production-line workers were included. Altogether 722 participants. The control group consisted of a group of production-line workers in five textile industrial establishments, altogether 812 examinees. The results indicate that the mean DMFT values recorded for the sweets industry workers were significantly higher than those recorded for the control group of workers. The mean DMFT scores recorded for workers in the sweets industry employed for over 10 years were significantly higher than those recorded for workers in the same industry employed for 3-10 years and for up to 3 years.