Journal vol.2 no.1 abstract4 of The Japan Health Care Dental Association

The Journal of The Japan Health Care Dental Association Vol.2 No.1, 2000
abstract

Masahiro Igarashi

With the results of an investigation conducted in November in 1999, it was shown that the DMFT index of the 6th grade of primary schools in Sakata city was 1.1 and caries-free (DMFT=0) rate was 55.6%. At the neighboring Akumi county (Hirata-cho, Matsuyama-cho, Hachiman-cho, and Yusa-cho) similar results were demonstrated: DMFT; 1.2 and caries-free rate; 49.5%. This region located north of the Shonai plains, which stretches from the foothills of Mt. Chokai to Mogami liver, is a distinguished agricultural area, and the caries prevalence rate of the 3 year-old in Yamagata prefecture, where this region belongs, has always been counted in the nation's worst 3. The improvement of caries prevalence rate in Sakata and Akumi district is considered attributable primarily to the comprehensive effects of the energetic efforts of school nurses and dentists through their school health activities, changes of the examination standard, and activities of home dentists who shifted their practices to preventive control. Notably, a significant result was led owing to the revision of the examination standard being actively proceeded through the district dental association. The cooperation among school, home and home dentists is considered to bring a good result, since the children's caries risk presently holds a wide range.