[The development of the costs of school dental care in the Canton of Zurich from 1967 to 1986].

The costs of the school dental services in the Canton of Zurich between 1967 and 1986 were assessed. The data were compiled from the annually submitted requests for financial support which are made by each community to the Cantonal Health Department. The total costs decreased slowly because of the diminishing number of schoolchildren since 1975 and the continually decreasing caries prevalence. Nevertheless, the individual costs per child increased slightly even after correction of the inflation. No clearcut reason explains the unexpectedly slow cost-reduction of the school dental service in the canton. The costs per child were higher in the City of Zurich than in the other communities with a school dental clinic. The costs of dental treatment was lowest in communities with dentists under contract for the school dental service. The reasons for this fact and the advantages of the school dental clinics are discussed. A more transparent structuring of the school dental services in the different communities is necessary and would allow a better analysis.