**7.1 Statistical analysis**

All data were analyzed using the SPSS 13.0 statistical package for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The measurements were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test at a

Caries Incidence in School Children Included in

**9. Conclusion** 

2011).

a Caries Preventive Program: A Longitudinal Study 375

According to 1999-2004 survey in the United States, the mean dfs for children 2-8 years was 3.7, although for 6-11 years of age was 4.30 and 1.84 for dft. The same study reported 51.17% caries prevalence in primary dentition for 6-11 years old children. However, caries experience for permanent teeth was 21% while DFS index was 0.65. Additionally, a prevalence of 10.16%, 0.19 DFT and 0.29 DFS were reported in children from 6 to 8 years old

In 2004, 5 years-old children in the United Kingdom showed a 1.55 dmft, later in 2009, 33% from 12-years-old children had a mean DMFT>0 and the decay experience average was 0.74, showing that the proportion of children without decay has risen to 61% (Drugan & Downer,

Reports from Värmland, Sweden indicate that 76% of 6 years-old children are caries free in primary dentition, while 7,8,9 and 10 years old children were 98%, 96%, 94% and 92% caries free for permanent dentition, respectively. (Axelson, 2004). In Europe, some reports have

In 2001, caries prevalence in Chinese children aged 5-6 years was 78 -86%, and dmft was 4.8 - 7.0. A lower prevalence of caries was reported (41-42%) in 12 years old children, and a 0.9%

The results of this study, showed a high caries prevalence and also higher dmft, dmfs, DMFT and DMFS index compared with well developed countries such as United States, United Kingdom, Sweden and other countries in Europe, but similar to those in China.

It seems that the efforts to diminish dental caries through the evaluated preventive and educational program have do not had the expected impact though these children are under salt fluoridation program. It is necessary to reconsider the implementation of additional measures according to caries risk group as has been reported previously, as well as to

This study was financially supported by the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Mexico. The authors would like to thank the staff of the three primary schools for their kind

Al-Jundi, S.H., Hammad, M. & Alwaeli, H. (2006). The efficacy of a school-based caries

Axelsson, P. *Diagnosis and risk prediction of dental caries*. (2000). Quintessence, ISBN 0-86715-

Axelsson, P. *Preventive materials , methods and programs*. (2004). Quintessence, ISBN 0- 86715-

Beltrán-Aguilar, E.D., Estupiñán-Day, S. & Báez R. (1999). Analysis of prevalence and trends

preventive program: a 4-year study. *International Journal of Dental Hygiene*, 4, 1, 30-4.

of dental caries in the Americas between the 1970s and 1990s. *International Dental* 

(Dye, et al., 2010; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 2011).

indicated a 79-93% dmfs or DMFS, or equal to zero (Marthaler, et al., 2004)

DMFT, according to WHO criteria (Wong, et al., 2001).

evaluate the cost and the effectiveness of mouthwashes.

**10. Acknowledgment** 

**11. References** 

collaboration during the data collection.

362-8, Germany.

364-4, Slovakia.

*Journal,* 49, 322-329.

(p ≤ 0.05) level of significance to assess distribution of data. The measurements were analyzed using Wilcoxon test was used with a level of significance of p ≤ 0.05.

#### **8. Results**

The mean age of the 145 children at the baseline was 6.5 years old, while during final examination was 9.5 years old. After 3 years follow up mean dmf/s and DMFT/S (Table I). DMFT scores showed increased 0.1 a 0.9 with differences statistically significantly. The percentage of caries-free children is showed in Table 2. At the be beginning of the study 93% of the children was caries-free for permanent teeth, decreasing to 57% while only 17% was healthy in both dentitions at the end of the study. Cumulative incidence was 0.39.


\* Groups with different letters are significantly different ( p ≤ 0.05).

Table 1. Caries experience of the study population in a three-year long follow up


Table 2. Percentage of children with caries and caries-free for dentition


Table 3. Caries incidence changes from first to third year for study group
