Applying preventive principles and materials to the practice of preventive dentistry in public oral health care.

It often takes quite a long time before caries preventive methods developed in the universities become adopted in practical use in dentistry. This may happen even though the method has been proved effective in long-term trials. It is most important therefore for the universities and the public dental health organisations to work closely together. This may significantly shorten the time interval between the invention and its practical application. The Public Health Center of Espoo has had the priviledge to work closely together both with the Universities of both Helsinki and Kuopio. Some of the most prominent trials conducted in Espoo or Kuopio that have resulted in practical application at Espoo Public Health Center will be described in the following.