The Intensified Dental Preventive Programme In Rhineland-Palatinate: Investigations On First-Grade School-Children In 2013/2014

Aim For children and adolescents at increased risk of caries, the "Selective Intensive Prophylaxis" (SIP) programme was established in Rhineland-Palatinate in 2004, as well as in the most other German states. This study compares the results of the school dentists' evaluations of first grade school children in 2013/2014 participating in the "Selective Intensive Prophylaxis" (SIP) programme or the "Standard Programme" (SP).Methods The d3mft/D3MFT index was recorded by school dentists according to the WHO criteria; caries was diagnosed if dentin was affected; no radiography or fiber-optic transillumination was used. The examinations were performed once under the SP and twice under the SIP. Children and parents were informed in case of a need for treatment and reminded if the did not see the family dentist. Out of the evaluated d3mft/D3MFT values, the Significant Caries Index (SiC) was calculated. Statistical computing was performed using SPSS 22.00.Results Of all first graders, n = 25 020 were evaluable for d3mft/D3MFT. Altogether n = 1 164 first graders were included into the SIP in the 2013/2014 term; for n = 1 002 of those, the results for both examinations were available. The caries experience of those pupils participating in the SIP was clearly higher than in the SP (41.8 % naturally healthy vs. 61.7 %, p < 0.0001). There was significant difference between the first and second examination in the SIP, especially with respect to individual (16.0 vs. 23.0 %, p < 0.0001) and tooth-related (43.2 vs. 54.2 %, p < 0.0001) level of restoration.Conclusion The results show that the SIP in Rhineland-Palatinate is conducted in a population with high caries experience. The significant difference concerning the dental restoration level, both individual-and teeth-related-leads to the conclusion that children frequently sought dental treatment if a need for treatment was diagnosed by the school dentist.