[Caries prevalence among students in 16 Zurich districts in the years 1992 to 2000]. / Kariesprävalenz von Schülern in 16 Zürcher Landgemeinden in den Jahren 1992 bis 2000.

Standardized dental examinations of schoolchildren were regularly carried out since 1964 in 16 rural communities of the Canton of Zurich. In 1964, there were no 14-year-old schoolchildren free from caries; in the Nineties about half of the 14-year-olds had a caries-free permanent dentition (DMFT = 0). From the year 1992 to 2000, the caries prevalence (DMFT) of 14-year-olds decreased once again, by 31%. The pit and fissure caries prevalence (DFS) of 12- and 14-year-olds decreased by 28% and 37%, respectively. In 2000, the mean DMFT-value of the 12- and 14-year-old schoolchildren was 0.90 and 1.27 respectively. In 1964, only few 7-year-old schoolchildren were caries-free; in the Nineties about half of the 7-year-olds had a primary dentition without caries. From the year 1992 to 2000, caries prevalence (dmft) in 7-, 8- and 9-year-olds increased by 64%, 22% and 31%. In 2000, the mean dmft-value of all 7-year-old schoolchildren was 2.45. The Swiss schoolchildren had 1.79 dmft; the schoolchildren from former Yugoslavia and from Albania had 6.89 dmft and those of other nations had 3.37 dmft. Possible reasons for the continuous caries decrease in the permanent dentition and the increase in the primary dentition are discussed. Additional measures in order to improve the situation in the primary dentition are proposed.

[Dental health of adults in the Zurich Canton]. / Zahngesundheit von Erwachsenen im Kanton Zürich.

In 1992 and 1999, dental health in 20- to 79-year-old adults from the canton of Zurich was assessed with a standardized method (WHO). The aim was to establish the current state and changes of dental health. Roughly half of the 852 approached adults selected by chance did take part. In 1992 and 1999, the mean number of unfilled, decayed teeth (DT) was on a low level in all age classes (0.2 to 1.8 depending on age class and examination year). The number of missing teeth (MT) in older adults (60-79) was on a high level (8.8 to 13.4). The number of filled teeth (FT) was highest (14.8 to 16.2) in middle-aged adults (40-59). Total loss of teeth was found only in older adults (60-79). Lack of a "functional" own dentition (5 teeth present in each quadrant) was found in roughly half of the 60- to 69-year-olds and two thirds of the 70- to 79-year-olds. In 1999, the state of the roots and loss of attachment was assessed. Wedge-shaped defects were found in more than half of the middle-aged adults (40-59). Carious roots were found in more than half of the 70- to 79-year-olds. Nearly half of the 70- to 79-year-old participants showed "severe" loss of attachment (> or = 6 mm). In the short period from 1992 to 1999, a significant decrease of 3.7 DMFT was found in 20- to 49-year-old adults. The decrease of 0.9 MT and 2.1 FT means also a decrease in treatment need in this age segment. In contrast, in the 50- to 79-year-olds no change in dental health could be established.