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The impact of a national caries strategy in G reenland after 4 years
Author(s) -
Ekstrand Kim R.,
Qvist Vibeke
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of paediatric dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.183
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1365-263X
pISSN - 0960-7439
DOI - 10.1111/ipd.12138
Subject(s) - medicine , oral health , pediatrics , gerontology , dentistry
Aims (1) To describe dental health – and financial goals to be achieved with a national caries strategy in Greenland (CSG) implemented in 2008; (2) to describe the principles of CSG; (3) to report caries outcome data for the 3‐and 9‐year‐olds in 1996, in 2008 (baseline), and in 2012; and (4) to assess the effect of CSG on the same age. Goals and Results Ad (1) Caries status recorded ≥85% of the children; 3‐year‐olds in 2012:defs = 0 ≥ 80%, defs > 8 ≤ 5%; 9‐year‐olds in 2012: DMFS = 0 ≥ 80%;DMFS > 4 ≤ 5%. CSG should not increase the cost compared to the old programme. Ad (2) CSG focused on predetermined visits/examinations, risk‐related visits, oral health promotion, and predetermined fluoride and sealing policies. Ad (3) 75% and 88% of the total cohorts of 3‐ and 9‐year‐olds in 2012 were recorded, respectively. Seventy‐six percent of the 3‐year‐olds showed defs = 0 in 2012 compared to 64% in 2008 ( P < 0.0001). DMFS = 0 data for the 9‐year‐olds were 65% vs 57% ( P = 0.003). The cost for running CSG was comparable to the cost before 2008. Ad (4) The annual percentage increase of children with defs/DMFS = 0 after implementation of CSG was twice as high as during 1996–2008. Conclusion The caries status improves significantly from 2008 to 2012 exemplified in the 3‐ and 9‐year‐olds without increasing the costs.