Long-term change in dental prevention and check-up intervals in public dental service in Helsinki, Finland

Helminen S.K.J. Long-term change in dental prevention and check-up intervals in public dental service in Helsinki, Finland. Department of Oral Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland, 2003. 88 pp. ISBN 952-91-5822-X. The aim of the present study was to track changes in dental state from 1976 to 1999, in Helsinki, Finland, and to evaluate dental prevention measures and the success with which they have been targeted at high-risk groups by Helsinki City Health Department. The study design was longitudinal, dental prevention being evaluated on the basis of five cross-sectional and one follow-up study. Data on dental state and treatments were collected from patient records and from official automatic data processing files. During the first 10 years, from 1976-1986 there was a substantial decrease in caries occurrence. In 1986, no focusing on risk patients was found. In 1989-91, the percentage of dental prevention in the treatment mix was directly proportional to a decrease in caries prevalence. In 1999, a positive change was observed in the targeting of caries prevention to 0to 18-year-old patients. The patients in orthodontic care were receiving more caries prevention. The proposed check-up intervals corresponded to the dental state of children. The dentists’ age and gender had no impact on the time spent for repeated caries prevention. Young adults’ check-up intervals appeared to function optimally. On the other hand, the feasibility of the DT and CPITN indices as administrative measures of treatment needs in young adults seemed to be minor. On the whole, the targeting of dental prevention has improved since 1976 and 1986. However recommendations are made for 1) additional training in calibration and usage of a computer-aided program to aid dentists in providing more accurate dental prevention, 2) economic incentives and 3) an administratively more practical dental index. In addition, the cost-effectiveness of the methods used in Helsinki should be studied and compared to methods used elsewhere.