Trends in caries prevalence among Jerusalem children over 20 years

The epidemiology of dental caries has been described as decreasing among most of the western world. A similar trend has been reported in Israel. Two Previous studies have been conducted in one Jerusalem neighborhood. The first in 1983-1986 and the second in 1992. Objectives: To compare caries prevalence levels among first and fourth grade schoolchildren in the same Jerusalem neighborhood that had been examined in the 1980s and the 1990s with those found in 2005. Methods: 101 first grade children and 84 fourth grade children were examined in the same three elementary schools that had previously participated. Caries was examined according to the dmfs (deciduous teeth surfaces with caries experience) and DMFS (permanent teeth surfaces with caries experience) criteria according to the World Health Organization, utilizing a dental probe and mirror in classrooms. Results: Among first grade children dmfs decreased from 13.95 in 1983, to 8.09 in 1992, and 5.02 in 2005; DMFS decreased from 1.64 in 1983, to 0.32 in 1992, and 0.16 in 2005. Among fourth grade children dmfs decreased from 13.87 in 1986, to 7.22 in 1992, and 4.16 in 2005; DMFS decreased from 3.57 in 1986, to 2.50 in 1986, and 1.07 in 2005. Conclusions: These data clearly reaffirm the continued decrease in dental caries prevalence among Jerusalem schoolchildren which has been contributed to water fluoridation and other preventive programs in the city.