Dental health of children in Australia 1977-1982.

Abstract

Abstract— An extensive programme was begun in 1977 to assess annually the dental health of school children aged four to thirteen years examined by the school dental services in each State and Territory.In the period 1977 to 1982, the number of DIMF teeth per child declined by 41.4 per cent while the oral hygiene index was reduced by 21 per cent. Significant factors in addition to fluoridated water and fluoridated dentifrices have contributed to the decline in the prevalence of dental caries, however, the current data indicate that the decline in the annual increment of dental caries has ceased.