Treatment practices in caries prevention for 6-year-olds in Finland

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate caries-preventive treatment practices in relation to caries state and eruption of first permanent molars (FPMs) among 6-year-olds (nΩ3489) examined and treated in public dental clinics in Helsinki during 1992. Methods: The study subjects were selected on the basis of their caries state using a two-point study design: the high-caries group (nΩ99) had the greatest number of DTπdt, the cavity-free group (nΩ32) had neither past nor present caries. Evaluation of dentists' caries-preventive treatment decisions was based on data from detailed personal oral health records. Results: In total, 22% of the high-caries patients (mean DTπdt 8.7; range 4-18) had been judged by their dentists as highrisk patients. Eruption of FPMs had no influence on dentists' judgement on caries risk. A subject's number of DTπdt had no influence on the intensity of preventive Key words: dental caries; first permanent molars; mixed dentition; preventive treatment given, but those with a high-risk judgement from a dentist received more treatment; public oral health service; risk of preventive measures per visit than did other high-caries patients. For high-caries caries; treatment practices patients with erupting FPMs, three visits in 10 included preventive intervention Sinikka Varsio, Institute of Dentistry, other than sealants, compared to nine in the cavity-

Prevention‐oriented practice of Iranian senior dental students

“…Previous studies have assessed the preventive practice and behaviour of oral health professionals on the basis of personal interviews (4), direct observations (5), data from patients’ personal oral health records (6–9), self‐administered questionnaires (10–13) and a combination of these methods (14). Many different factors influence their preventive practice and behaviour, as has been shown in studies of their beliefs and attitudes (15), knowledge of preventive measures (11), self‐perceived competency (11) and professional training (13).…”