The decline in dental caries among 12-year-old children in Germany between 1994 and 2000

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of dental caries in 12-year-old-children in 11 of the 16 German Federal States over time following the introduction of intensive preventive measures. DESIGN: Cross sectional oral health surveys of children aged 12 years were performed in 1994-1995, 1997 and 2000. SUBJECTS: After random selection 18,459 (1994-1995), 22,908 (1997) and 24,679 (2000) children were examined in schools. METHOD: DMFT and fissure sealants were recorded following WHO criteria. Caries was diagnosed at the caries into dentine (D3) threshold using visual method without radiography or fiber-optic transillumination. RESULTS: The mean DMFT scores for Germany decreased from 2.44 in 1994-1995 to 1.81 in 1997 and 1.24 in 2000. In 1994-1995 31.1% of 12-year-olds had no caries experience (DMFT = 0). The corresponding figures were 42.5% in 1997 and 55.3% in 2000. The average Significant Caries Index (SiC index) dropped from 5.25 in 1994-1995 to 4.29 in 1997 and to 3.30 in 2000. The results in different federal states showed a wide variation in caries prevalence. In the first examination, mean DMFT scores between 2.10 and 3.54 were found, while after the third evaluation corresponding values between 1.03 and 1.95 were observed. In 1997 on average between 0.20 and 2.00 teeth with fissure sealants per child were found, the corresponding values in 2000 were between 2.13 and 2.83. CONCLUSION: The results of our study show considerable inequalities in oral health in the various federal states. Nevertheless, oral health in Germany improved considerably between the years 1994 and 2000.