Methods: We analyzed data from dental examinations conducted annually in spring in elementary schools in Niigata Prefecture Japan. Data from the years 2007-2009 on 63,862 children in the 6th grade of elementary school were examined. Some schools conducted FMR programs, and some did not. The prevalence of dental caries in permanent dentition and the median value of the mean numbers of decayed, missing or filled (DMF) teeth were examined. Program participation was divided into two groups, the 5 FMR years group for those that participated in FMR and the non-FMR year group for those that did not.
Results: Overall, those in the 5 FMR years group showed a reduction of caries prevalence in the permanent dentition [odds ratio = 0.69, 95% confidential limits = 0.66, 0.71, P<0.001]. A trend toward a large preventive benefit among children in schools with FMR programs was found compared to non-FMR programs. The median values in the 5 FMR years group were 0.44, 0.34 and 0.30 vs. 0.70, 0.59 and 0.57 in the non-FMR year group in 2007, 08 and 09, respectively[P<0.001 Mann-Whitney test].
Conclusions: Because these differences were confirmed statistically, the results indicated that children in schools with FMR programs, as identified by registered data, experienced significant caries-prevention benefits from long-term FMR participation in grades 1 through 5.