March 2009

Objective To study caries levels and related variables among first grade and fourth grade schoolchildren in one Jerusalem geographic region in 2005, and possible changes in caries levels over three decades: the 1980s, 1990s and finally in 2005. Methods Dental caries was examined, within schools, employing the DMFS and defs indices, for permanent and deciduous teeth respectively. Results Data indicate a consistent decline in disease: a reduction from 1.64 to 0.32 to 0.16 for DMFS, and 13.95 to 8.09 to 5.07 for defs (1983, 1992, 2005, respectively), among first grade children; and from 3.50 to 2.50 to 1.07 for DMFS, and 13.88 to 7.26 to 4.16 for defs, (1983, 1992, 2005, respectively), among fourth grade children. Conclusions A consistent decrease in caries has been detected over three decades. Specific causal factors were not ascertained. Key words: Caries prevalence, defs, DMFS, Israel, schoolchildren