[Evaluation of a 4-year dental hygiene preventive program of the Les Planes health district in Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona)]. / Evaluación a los 4 años del programa preventivo de salud bucodental del Area Básica de Les Planes en Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the 4 years in operation of the preventive health programme for dental hygiene in children. DESIGN: Two epidemiological crossover and observational studies, retrospective over four years (1990-1994) in order to assess the incidence of dental caries in the target population (n = 800). SETTING: Les Planes Health District, Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona). PATIENTS: Children from 4 to 14 included in the caries prevention programme. INTERVENTIONS: This dental hygiene programme consisted of: school check-ups twice a year, monitoring children at risk of caries each term, education in oral hygiene, directly applied fluoride and sealing cracks at the health centre. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: To assess the results of the programme, the difference in the incidence of caries between both groups was assessed with the CAO-D index, i.e. the average number of teeth affected by child caries. Overall and for ages, a decrease in the incidence of caries was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The programme has given positive results, which should encourage other health centres in their prevention programmes.