Caries Prevention Strategies Practiced In Scandinavia

Abstract: ABSTRACT:The purpose of this literature study is to study the dental caries status (DMFT) of 12-years-olds in Scandinavia and describe and compare the different preventive strategies and methods used by different dental care personal in each country and between these three countries. To achieve the objective information from scientific literature and publications, and data from WHO database on these three countries were used.DMFT for 12-year olds in Norway was 1.7 (2004), 0.7 for Denmark (2008) and in Sweden 0.9 (2008). During the past decade, changes have occurred in the prevention system of population- based prevention to individual-based prevention. This is a result partly of the low caries prevalence and partly because of a disproportional distribution of caries in this target group. It is regarded as a smart solution to be able to access the most affected or at risk patients who have the most dental care needs.The results showed different dental personals used different preventive strategies. Choices related to the use of fluoride vehicles were also varied. There were also differences in prevention strategies between different countries. This shows that despite the similarities in the dental teams, free and subsidized dental care for children there are also differences in quality of the offering of policies and practices. All this data confirm the differences between all three countries in choice of preventive method for risk and none-risk patients. This seems to be influenced by different cultural patterns within the dental professional communities of each country. Differences in caries incidence probably could be due to different combinations of preventive methods. There is a need for more research in this area. There is a need for a consensus about which strategy and approach is most effective and which one should be used against dental caries in risk and non risk patients, a consensus in which all countries agree to implement.