[Experimental assessment of the effectiveness of general and local caries preventives by the use of complex factor analyses (author's transl)].

Using the method of complex factor analysis, it was possible to characterize the results of experiments conducted with a view to determining the anticariogenic effects upon 104 Wistar rats of fluoridated water, fluoride-containing gel, and remineralizing solutions. The anticariogenic effects were highest for fluoridated drinking water, less satisfactory for fluoride-containing gels, and minimal for remineralizing solutions. Simultaneous application of these anticarious agents was seen to exert an increased inhibitory action upon the progress of dental caries. A typical example is used to show that the use of complex factor analysis yields additional results showing the interaction of the factors being studied and substantially reduces the number of test animals and the time required for experimentation.