[The results of caries prophylaxis after 25 years of the School Dental Clinic in the city of St. Gallen].

Since 1966 the School Dental Clinic of St. Gall has been in charge of preventive dentistry and treatment of school and kindergarten children. For children from kindergarten and the 1st level of primary school, the caries incidence rate was established in percentages. For those of 14 years of age, the DFM-T index (including 2 bit-wings) was determined. For the 14-year-old children the average number of carious, filled and extracted teeth (DMF-teeth) decreased as follows: 1974 DFM-T = 7.0; 1978 DMF-T = 5.0; 1982 DMF-T = 3.0; 1987 DMF-T = 2.7; 1991 DMF-T = 1.1. The percentage of children with a healthy natural dentition in this age group was approximately 40% in 1991. The number of extractions of permanent teeth dropped 15 times, the number of required tooth fillings up to 5 times. Whilst children of 14 years of age in 1991 showed a minimum of carious lesions, the caries prevalence of kindergarten children and those of 1st level primary school increased slightly (partly due to influx of foreigners). This fact draws attention to the significance of a uniform, continuous and systematic prevention in the future.